Apogon nigrofasciatus
Blackstripe Cardinalfish
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Perciformes
Family
Apogonidae
Genus
Apogon
Species
Apogon nigrofasciatus
Colours
Distinguishing features
Black stripes alternating with white, yellow or blue stripes that stop abruptly at the tail. Found in caves and under ledges. Tail and other fins may be pinkish.
Size
- Up to 10 cm (Total Length)
Depth range
- From 3 m to 50 m
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
Pearly-line Cardinalfish (species: Ostorhinchus taeniophorus)
has a very similar colour pattern but occupies a different habitat -shallow reef flats, surge areas (Allen et al, 2003). -
Animalia:
species: Ostorhinchus aroubiensis
has been recorded once from Lizard Island, by Lassig (1983). However, Randall (2001) notes that Apogon nigrofasciatus was often midsidentifed as Ostorhinchus aroubiensis. Lassig's record was likely one such misidentification. -
Animalia:
Nineline Cardinalfish (species: Ostorhinchus novemfasciatus)
body stripes extend onto tail.
Comments
The scientific name is not accepted by World Register of Marine Species
by Gaia Guide
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
In the Indo-Pacific, they are known from the Red Sea and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean; ranging to the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia and Rapa. In the Western Indian Ocean they are found in Mozambique.
They occur on reef flats and shallow lagoon reef and are usually seen singly or in pairs under ledges or in crevices. (Fishbase)
Diet
They feed on small benthic invertebrates at night. (Fishbase)
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Allen, G., R. Steene, P. Humann and N. Deloach (2003). Reef fish identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA.
Other references
- Fogelman, R.M. and A.S. Grutter (2008). Mancae of the parasitic cymothoid isopod, Anilocra apogonae: early life history, host specificity, and the effect on growth and survival of preferred young cardinal fishes, Coral Reefs, 27: 685-693. LIRS catalog number 1146.
- JE Randall (2001). Four new cardinalfishes (Perciformes: Apogonidae) from the Marquesas Islands, Pacific Science, 55: 47-54. LIRS catalog number 90279.
- View all references