Key West Yellowhead Jawfish

Snorkeling Key West is an opportunity to see many unique fish, and the Yellowhead Jawfish is one of the most unique.

Yellowhead Jawfish have a pale yellow head that almost seems to glow, with the rest of the body a shiny light blue. They have enlarged heads as compared to the size of the rest of their body. They are territorial, which means if you see a Jawfish once, if you come back to that place later, you will most likely spot the Jawfish again. You may be able to spot them when they chase other fish away from the tunnels they have made. To frighten other fish, they open their mouths and jaws wide.

The fish make burrows by scooping up sand and shells with their mouths and then depositing it somewhere else. They are often seen with only their heads poking out of their homes, feeding on plankton and other small matter that floats by. If they feel in danger, they retreat into the hole or tunnel they have made.

Male Yellowhead Jawfish hatch the female's eggs in their mouths. They hold the eggs there for a week to ten days until they hatch, to protect the eggs and the newborn baby fish from predators.