Scalemouth jobfish (Parapristipomoides squamimaxillaris)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Eupercaria incertae sedis · Family: Lutjanidae · Genus: Parapristipomoides.

Accepted name: Parapristipomoides squamimaxillaris · Authority: (Kami, 1973) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 282103.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Pristipomoides squamimaxillaris Kami, 1973.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=282103 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Parapristipomoides squamimaxillaris. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 51.29999923706055 cm · Depth range: 130–460 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 47.4 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Adults occur over rocky bottoms. Marketed fresh.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 195) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Parapristipomoides-squamimaxillaris.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Parapristipomoides squamimaxillaris (Kami, 1973) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 194361) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194361/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385222) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385222/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The scalemouth jobfish has an elongated, slender body which at its deepest point is around a third in depth as its standard length. It has a comparatively small, sharply pointed head with a convex intraorbital area. The lower jaw protrudes slightly and the mouth reaches the pupil. The maxilla are scaled, each jaw has a single, thin band of bristle-like teeth and there is a small oval-shaped parch of teeth on the vomer. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 10 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. This species attains a maximum length of 51.4 cm. The main colour is a silvery pink, darker on the back. The fins are whitish, except for the caudal fin which has a yellow upper lobe and a pinkish lower lobe.

The scalemouth jobfish has a scattered distribution in the southern Pacific Ocean with records from Easter Island, Rapa Iti, New Caledonia and Tonga.

The scalemouth jobfish is found in relatively deep water between 130 and 460 m, at least. It is associated with rocky substrates, particularly reefs.

The scalemouth jobfish was first formally described in 1973 as Pristipomoides squamimaxillaris by the American zoologist Harry T. Kami with the type locality given as Easter Island. Kami placed this species in the monotypic subgenus Parapristipomoide but later workers argued that it was too different from other species in that genus and made Parapristipomoides a valid genus. The generic name means "near to Pristipomoides" while the specific name squamimaxillaris means "scaly jaw", a reference to the scaled jaws of this species.

The scalemouth jobfish is caught by handline fishing at Easter Island and Rapa Iti and the catch is sold fresh.

Source: Wikipedia: Scalemouth jobfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalemouth_jobfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.