Family Apogonidae

Cardinalfishes

Cardinalfishes are nocturnal carnivores with twin dorsal fins and large mouths and eyes.  Males incubate a cluster of eggs in their mouth at least until they hatch.  Most species appear lighter and more iridescent at night as they feed upon zooplankton or small invertebrates.  Rarely eaten since most are small.  Many species below formerly assigned to the genus Apogon.

 

HAWAII

Apogon erythrinus   

Punalu'u, Oahu, 4 feet

Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

HAWAIIAN RUBY CARDINALFISH

Endemic to Hawaii.  A shy fish on reefs at night.  Attains 2 inches.  Normal lifespan about 4 months.  Related to several similar species in the Indo-Pacific.

Zapogon evermanni

Kaunolu Point, Lana'i, 25 feet

ODDSCALE CARDINALFISH

Restricted but not rare in deep caves.  Brick red with faint dark bars and black and white spot at base of second dorsal fin.  Attains 6 inches.  Spotty records throughout the Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, and the Caribbean.

Pristiapogon kallopterus

Juvenile, Kailua Pier, Hawaii, 30 feet

 

Night color, Makaha, Oahu, 30 feet

Kea'au, Oahu, 50 feet

 

Indo-Pacific form, Poloa, American Samoa, 25 feet

Mokuleia, Oahu, 100 feet

   IRIDESCENT CARDINALFISH

Very common on sandy reefs.  Hawaiian fishes lack dark lateral stripe.  Faint stripes on fins may be present.  Attains 6 inches.  Indo-Pacific including Hawaii.

Ostorhinchus maculiferus   

Peek-a-boo, Midway, 40 feet

Night color, Cargo pier, Midway Atoll, 10 feet

  SPOTTED CARDINALFISH

Endemic to Hawaii.  Only common in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.  Attains 5 inches.

Pristiapogon taeniopterus

Puako, Hawaii, 25 feet

 

Kure Atoll, 15 feet

Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

 

Kapoho, Hawaii, 3 feet

Kapoho, Hawaii, 3 feet

 BANDFIN CARDINALFISH

Uncommon at any depth on rocky reefs.  Well-defined stripes on fins and mottled body.  More robust than Iridescent Cardinalfish.  Attains 6 inches.  Spotty records from the Indo-Pacific and Hawaii excluding the Indo-Malay region.

Apogonichthys perdix

Waikiki Cardinalfish, Hau'ula, Oahu, 4 feet, Nikonos 1:2

Waikiki, Oahu, 10 feet

Punalu'u, Oahu, 3 feet

WAIKIKI CARDINALFISH

Shy fish found under rocks and seaweeds on shallow barren reefs; rarely seen.  Olive green to brown with red-orange fin margins.  Caudal fin is rounded; attains 2.5 inches.  Formerly known as Apogon waikiki.  Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, and Hawaii.

Foa brachygramma   

Punalu'u, Oahu, 4 feet

 

Channel, Midway Atoll, 35 feet

Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

 

Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

 BAY CARDINALFISH

Endemic to Hawaii.  Common in shallow murky water among rubble and seaweed.  Deep angular body with rounded caudal fin.  Gray with brown or olive mottling.  Attains 3 inches.  

Pseudamiops diaphanes   

Makai Pier, Oahu, 15 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 40 feet

  CLEAR CARDINALFISH

Endemic to Hawaii.  Common but rarely seen due to small size and lack of color.  Inhabits holes or ledges and emerges at night to feed in the water column.  Elongate transparent body with rounded caudal fin.  Attains 2 inches.  Formerly known as Pseudamiops gracilicauda.


INDO-PACIFIC

 

Pterapogon kauderni   

Waikiki Aquarium

Waikiki Aquarium

BANGGAI CARDINALFISH

Inhabits seagrass beds.  Endemic to East Sulawesi, Indonesia.  About 4 inches.

Apogon doryssa

Wakatobi, Indonesia

LONGSPINE CARDINALFISH

Emerges from dark holes at night.  Attains 2.5 inches.  Maldives to Japan and the Tuamotus.  

Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus

Wakatobi, Indonesia

FIVE-LINE CARDINALFISH

Common on shallow reefs in calm water.  Attains 5 inches.  Indo-Pacific except Hawaii.  Very similar to C. iostigmus.

Ostorhinchus fuscus

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 4 feet

YELLOW-EDGED CARDINALFISH

Inhabits shallow reefs from the Maldives to the Tuamotus.  Attians 4.5 inches.

Ostorhinchus leslie

Waikiki Aquarium

Waikiki Aquarium

LESLIE'S CARDINALFISH

Rare at scuba depths.  Attains 2.5 inches.  American Samoa to northern Vanuatu.

Zoramia leptacantha

Waikiki Aquarium

Waikiki Aquarium

 THREADFIN CARDINALFISH

Inhabits calm waters among branching coral.  Green line on dorsal ridge.  Red Sea to Samoa.  About 2 inches.

 


EASTERN PACIFIC

 

Apogon atricaudus

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 15 feet

 

PLAIN CARDINALFISH

Endemic to rocky reefs of Los Cabos and the Revillagigedos.  Has black streak in middle of first dorsal fin.  About 3 inches.

Apogon guadalupensis

Rock Quarry, Catalina Island, California, 25 feet

 

GUADALUPE CARDINALFISH

Inhabits rocky reefs from Catalina Island south to Cabo San Lucas and the Revillagigedos.  About 3 inches.  Lacks black streak on first dorsal fin.

Apogon pacificus

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 15 feet

 

PINK CARDINALFISH

Inhabits reefs from the Sea of Cortez to Peru.  Up to 4 inches.

Apogon retrosella

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 15 feet

 

BARSPOT CARDINALFISH

Inhabits rocky reefs.  To 4 inches.  Sea of Cortez to Southern Mexico.


JAPAN

 

 

 

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