About Opistognathus aurifrons (Jordan & Thompson, 1905)
The yellowhead jawfish, with the scientific name Opistognathus aurifrons, is a jawfish species native to coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea, and is also common in Florida. It can be found at depths ranging from 3 to 40 metres (9.8 to 131.2 ft). Its head and upper body are a light, bright yellow color that slowly fades to a pearlescent blue hue. This species can reach a total length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in). Yellowhead jawfish live in rubble and sand areas, in groups of up to 70 individuals. They are usually found in shallow areas where materials to build burrows are available. They stay close to their relatively small territories, and are most often seen with only their head and upper body protruding from their burrows, though they may sometimes hover near their burrows. They can arrange construction materials using their mouths, carrying sand, shells, or small rocks from one spot to another. O. aurifrons is a mouthbrooding species: males carry the eggs in their mouth until the eggs hatch. Yellowhead jawfish have two distinct responses to intruders: flight or fight. The response they use depends on the type of intruding fish. When responding with flight, the fish swims away from the intruder into its burrow, and covers the burrow opening with a large rock. When responding with fight, the fish spits sand or rocks at the intruder.
