Rabaulichthys anthias are not the only fish in the reefs to sport elaborate dorsal finnage. Check out the beast of a jawfish that is the sail-fin jawfish, this specimen being tentatively identified as Opistognathus lonchurus. Hailing from the Western Atlantic, the sailfin jawfish rarely see the likes of aquarium life. Rare and found only at depths of 120-300ft, the sailfin jawfish demands a hefty price of just shy of $1,000.
Attaining a maximum length of about 4 inches, the pearlescent ivory body decorated with blue streaks and a custard colored fins makes the fish even more attractive, and somewhat reminiscent of Opistognathus hopkinsi from Japan. As if the dramatic dorsal fin was not already enough. Not much is known about the sailfin jawfish, other than the fact that it is very uncommonly encountered in the hobby. Little surprise that it was sent to Japan via a Caribbean source. We hope to see updates of the fish in future should anyone purchase it.
