Parrotperch, spotted Oplegnathus punctatus

Temminck, Schlegel, 1844

OPLEGNATHIDAE FAMILY
Also called spotted knifejaw, hoofjaws

Ishigakidai are distributed from central Honshu southward to the South China Sea and Hawaii. Typically they inhabit rocky and coral reefs. Juveniles are found associate with drifting seaweed.

The body of the ishigakidai is somewhat elliptical in outline and moderately compressed. The teeth are fused forming a parrot-like beak in adults. The young knifejaws have more normal, separate incisiform teeth. The dark-spotted color pattern typical of ishigakidai fades in large adult males and the snout becomes white.

In Japan, the knifejaws are highly esteemed as gamefish and are excellent foodfish. It has recently been propagated artificially and the flesh is considered quite good. (see parrotfish, spotted

Parrotperch, Japanese Oplegnathus fasciatus

Kroyer, 1845

OPLEGNATHIDAE FAMILY
Also called knifefish, hoofjaws, horseshoe jaws

The ishidai is especially abundant in western Japan, but it is can be found on every coast of Japan and also in Hawaii. It inhabits coastal waters from shoreline to about 150-m (500 ft) depth especially in the vicinity of rocky areas.

Members of the Oplegnatidae or knifefish family are sometimes called parrotfish or false parrotfishes, although they are unrelated to the true parrotfishes (Scaridae family). The teeth of both jaws are fused into cutting plates like the “beak” of parrotfishes which allows them to easily break the shells of snails or barnacles.

The ishidai body is oblong-oval and moderately compressed with very small scales. There is a single dorsal fin with the spinous base much longer than the base of the soft portion. Adult isihidai have a low spinous dorsal fin. The spinous and soft dorsal fins are about the same height and are continuous in juveniles. In young individuals, the body is marked by about seven darker, vertical bands that gradually disappear with age. Very large fish generally have solid colors in grays and browns with the snout becoming black. (see parrotperch, spotted