CORAL—The Reef & Marine Aquarium Magazine

MYSTERY FISH: Jawfish Edition

by | Apr 13, 2025 | CORAL - Matt Pedersen, Marine | 1 comment

Can you correctly identify these three mysterious jawfishes?
Can you correctly identify these three mysterious jawfishes?

The May/June issue of CORAL Magazine, JAW-DROPPING JAWFISHES, is just days away. If you’re not a current subscriber, you must subscribe by April 14th, 2025, to start with this issue! SUBSCRIBE NOW!

JAW-DROPPING Jawfishes: The forthcoming May/June 2025 issue of CORAL Magazine.
JAW-DROPPING Jawfishes: The forthcoming May/June 2025 issue of CORAL Magazine.

This new issue features a massive number of jawfish photographs from more than 20 photographers. Their willingness to collaborate helped create an exceptional issue that every aquarist will truly enjoy; an issue that will showcase the jawfishes like never before. The CORAL editors dedicate this mystery fish edition to the following photographers with our deepest gratitude:

  • Tim Gurney
  • Billy Bensted-Smith
  • Allison and Carlos Estapé
  • Pauline Walsh Jacobson
  • Scott Michael
  • Rickard Zerpe
  • Terence Zahner
  • Kevin Kohen
  • Mike Workman
  • Alex Rose
  • Jacob Loyacano
  • François Libert
  • LiveAquauria.com
  • Dr. Yi-Kai Tea
  • Craig Howe
  • Pavaphon Supanantananont
  • Kaschibo
  • DeJong Marinelife
  • Tropiclens
  • Martin A. Moe, Jr.
  • Jaimy Rooijakkers
  • Frank Kasovec (The Wet Lens)
  • Raul Fernandez

To showcase just a tiny preview of what’s to come, this mystery fish edition has three fish to identify. All are members of the family Opsitognathidae, and each caption has a hint or two, but beyond that, good luck! You’ll find the answers in the pages of the May/June 2025 issue, and we’ll post them in a month or two from now online! Feel free to share your guesses in the comments!

Mystery Jawfish #1:

Pauline Walsh-Jacobson captured this engaging image of a jawfish in its burrow. A telltale characteristic that helps distinguish this fish from similar species in its range is visible in this photo.
Pauline Walsh-Jacobson captured this engaging image of a jawfish in its burrow. While common in the aquarium trade, many people might still get the ID wrong. A telltale characteristic that helps distinguish this fish from similar species in its range is visible in this photo.

Mystery Jawfish #2:

The only member of its genus known to be in the aquarium trade, this jawfish doesn't live where other aquarium fishes are found. Collectors report that they have to make designated trips to a specific habitat in order to gather this species. Photographer Scott Michael was lucky enough to see this one in an aquarium.
The only member of its genus known to be in the aquarium trade, this jawfish doesn’t live where other aquarium fishes are found. Collectors report that they have to make designated trips to a specific habitat in order to gather this species. Photographer Scott Michael was lucky enough to see this one in an aquarium.

Mystery Jawfish #3:

Billy Bensted-Smith is responsible for this image of a jawfish that, to the best of our knowledge, has never been in the aquarium trade. In other words, it is not what you likely presumed it to be. If your first guess is pretty much automatically wrong, then what is this mystery jawfish?!
Billy Bensted-Smith is responsible for this image of a jawfish that, to the best of our knowledge, has never been in the aquarium trade. In other words, it is not what you likely presumed it to be. If your first guess is pretty much automatically wrong, then what is this mystery jawfish?!

If you miss out on this fantastic issue, back issues area always available, while supplies last, on our webstore at www.AquaticMediaPress.com/shop.

1 Comment

  1. Brent Tibbatts
    Brent Tibbatts on April 14, 2025 at 5:13 pm

    Opistognathus panamaensis for the third.

    Reply

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