| Striped beakfish | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Oplegnathidae |
| Genus: | Oplegnathus |
| Species: | O. fasciatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Oplegnathus fasciatus Krøyer, 1845 |
|
The striped beakfish, Oplegnathus fasciatus, also called the barred knifejaw or the striped beakperch, is a tropical fish found primarily in Japanese waters, and its main habitat are coral reefs. It has been sighted twice in Malta and only once in Hawaii.
While old, the fish is distinguished by alternating stripes or bars of light and dark grey, hence the common names. Adults, which grow up to 15 inches, tend to be charcoal grey.
Its diet consists largely of shelled invertebrates.