Genus: Lonchopisthus, Jawfishes, Longtail Jawfish
C very long, pointed
top jaw end concave + notch/hook
cheeks scaled
LONCHOPISTHUS
JAWFISHES
Elongate, compressed, tapering body; large bulbous head, eye large, high on side of head; mouth opens at front, large, extends to rear of eye; jaw teeth slender, straight; top jaw with rear end concave, a blunt notch or hook on underside at rear; dorsal fin X-XI, not notched; dorsal and anal fins with long bases; pelvic fins I, 5, outer 2 rays stout and unbranched, inner 3 rays weaker and branched, fin base before the pectoral; tail fin much longer than head, sharply pointed; lateral line on front half of body only, high; cheeks scaled.
A neotropical genus with 5 species; the four species found in our region include 2 W Atlantic species and 2 endemics.
