Oplegnathidae is a family of marine fish within the Perciformes commonly known as knifejaws; some species are known as beakfish. It contains a single genus, Oplegnathus. The largest, the Cape knifejaw, can reach a maximum length of about 90 cm (35 in). Knifejaws have teeth fused into a parrotlike beak in adulthood. They feed on barnacles and mollusks, and are fished commercially. They are found in the north-western Pacific Ocean (e.g. Japan), in the southern half of Australia, in the Galapagos, Peru, and Chile, and in Southern Africa.

Species

• Cape knifejaw, Oplegnathus conwayi Richardson, 1840
• Striped beakfish, Oplegnathus fasciatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
• Pacific beakfish, Oplegnathus insignis (Kner, 1867)
• Mozambique knifejaw, Oplegnathus peaolopesi Smith, 1947
• Spotted knifejaw, Oplegnathus punctatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844)
• Natal knifejaw, Oplegnathus robinsoni Regan, 1916
• Knifejaw, Oplegnathus woodwardi Waite, 1900

References

• ITIS: Oplegnathidae, accessed August 24, 2006
• FishBase: Family Oplegnathidae - Knifejaws, accessed August 24, 2006