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.

Punalu'u, Oahu, 4 feet

Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

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.

Kaunolu Point, Lana'i, 25 feet

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.

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

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.

Peek-a-boo, Midway, 40 feet

Night color, Cargo pier, Midway Atoll, 10 feet

Puako, Hawaii, 25 feet

Kure Atoll, 15 feet

Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

Kapoho, Hawaii, 3 feet

Kapoho, Hawaii, 3 feet

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.

Waikiki, Oahu, 10 feet

Punalu'u, Oahu, 3 feet

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.

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

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.  

Makai Pier, Oahu, 15 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 40 feet

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.

Waikiki Aquarium

Waikiki Aquarium

Wakatobi, Indonesia

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

Wakatobi, Indonesia

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

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 4 feet

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

Waikiki Aquarium

Waikiki Aquarium

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

Waikiki Aquarium

Waikiki Aquarium

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

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 15 feet

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

Rock Quarry, Catalina Island, California, 25 feet

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

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 15 feet

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 15 feet

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