Smiler

Opistognathus jacksoniensis

Fish
IUCN: Least concern

Usual depth9–77 m
Water temperature18–23 °C
Best monthsMarch, October, and December
How commonRare

All species

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

Loading the map

Best months

Worldwide (open data)

January: 1 records
February: 1 records
March: 2 records
April: 2 records
May: 2 records
June: 0 records
July: 1 records
August: 2 records
September: 1 records
October: 3 records
November: 2 records
December: 3 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 9–77 m · Deepest record: 77 m

0–10 m: 1 records
10–20 m: 0 records
20–30 m: 0 records
30–40 m: 0 records
40–50 m: 0 records
50–60 m: 0 records
60–70 m: 0 records
70–80 m: 3 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 18–23 °C

16–18 °C: 1 records
18–20 °C: 0 records
20–22 °C: 13 records
22–24 °C: 29 records

Names and classification

English: Smiler, Southern Smiler

Other scientific names: Opisthognathus jacksoniensis, Opistognathus jacksiensis

Similar species

Yellowhead jawfish
Opistognathus aurifrons
Darwin Jawfish
Opistognathus darwiniensis
Dendritic Jawfish
Opistognathus dendriticus
Robust jawfish
Opistognathus muscatensis
Birdled jawfish
Opistognathus nigromarginatus
Finespotted jawfish
Opistognathus punctatus

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
55 open-data records from 1902 to 2018.
Species data updated November 5, 2026.

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