Virtual Travel-Meet a Yellowheaded Jawfish

This Yellowheaded Jawfish was seen at Bus Stop, Bloody Bay Marine Park, Little Cayman, BWI.

The yellowhead jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons) is a species of jawfish native to coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea. 

It is found at depths of from 3 to 40 metres (9.8 to 131.2 ft). 

The head and upper body are a light, but brilliant, yellow color slowly fading to a pearlescent blue hue. It can reach a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in.)  They are usually found in shallow, rubble, sandy areas where they can burrow.

They remain near their relatively small territory, and are typically seen with only the head and upper section of its body protruding from its burrow, although it sometimes can be found hovering nearby. They move material using their mouths, carrying sand, shells, or small rocks from one location to another. 

They are also mouthbrooders, with the male carrying the eggs in its mouth until they hatch. If you are lucky you can see a male spitting the eggs out of their mouth then catching them again to aerate the eggs during incubation.

Sometimes you can approach an underwater field of these fish all out of their burrows hovering above the sand. They look like underwater ghosts.

#littlecayman #bloodybay
#littlecaymandivers #divecayman #lcdivers #clearlycayman #caymanislands #scubadiving #caymandiving 

#scuba #valetdiving #reefdivers #underwaterphotography #caribbean
#littlecaymanbeachresort

Take a virtual tour through some of my photos: https://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/Travel-Photography

We'll get through this together. We're all connected.
#StayatHomeSavesLives
#StopTheSpread

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Nancy Nutile-McMenemy is an Upper Valley freelance photographer and writer who loves to attend concerts and local events in and around Weathersfield and the Upper Valley.

If you have anything you think I should post during our Stay At Home Time drop me an email: photosbynanci@comcast.com