Author: Gasparini, Rocha & Floeter, 2001
FBname: Brazilian dartfish
Comments: Used in the aquarium trade under the name <i>Opistognathus leitoso</i>.  The population is declining fast in some areas of the Brazilian coast (mainly off the States of Espirito Santo and Bahia) due to commercial exploration of the calcareous algae banks.  This species hovers over its burrow feeding on plankton and dives headfirst in to the burrow when threatened.  Found usually over sandy bottom close to reefs, but also common over sand patches as small as 10 cm  in diameter, enclosed by rocky areas or in calcareous algae (<i>Lithothamnion</i> sp.) banks (Ref. 84213).  Maximum depth from Ref. 126840.