Common names: jawfish (English), bocón (Espanol)
 
Opistognathus panamaensis Allen & Robertson, 1991


Panamanian jawfish

Elongate, compressed, tapering body; large bulbous head; eye large, high; no cirrus at front nostril; rear end of top jaw straight, without rear fringe; upper jaw 51-53% of head length, same size in both sexes; lips with papillae inside; center of roof of mouth with 1-4 teeth; gill rakers  37; no broad flap below operculum; dorsal rays XI, 13-14; anal rays II, 13-14; pectoral rays  20; tail rounded, much shorter than head; lateral line on front half of body only, high; scales small, smooth, none on head,  76-78 oblique scale rows.



Very similar in coloration and habits to  O. rosenblatti; body and orsal and caudal fins generally bright yellow and the blue spots on the body sometimes coalesce to form stripes; no obvious color pattern inside mouth.


Size: reaches about 10 cm.

Inhabits burrows in sand-rubble areas.

Depth: 5-25 m.

Costa Rica to Colombia, Isla del Coco and Malpelo.