Ryan Photographic - Apogonidae - Cardinalfishes


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Family Apogonidae

The family Apogonidae, known more widely as the cardinalfishes, currently consists of 207 species in 22 genera. They are typically small, the largest is about 20 cm. Unlike most fish, the males brood the eggs in their mouth. Primarily marine, some cardinalfish live in brackish water while a few species inhabit freshwater. During the day cardinalfishes are usually found in small schools in close vicinity to some sort of protection, typically branching corals. At night they tend to disperse in search of food, normally zooplankton or small bottom living invertebrates. The Banggai cardinalfish is considered threatened in its natural environment (the Banggai Islands) but a satellite population in the Lembeh Straits, probably founded by fish collectors, appears safe.

Cardinalfish are relatively easy to photograph being relatively unperturbed by divers. It does take patience to get them side on however as they will often rotate to face towards the intruder. The larger species are spectacularly toothy :-).

 

Apogon apogonoides Goldbelly cardinalfish

Apogon apogonoides Goldbelly cardinalfish in front of sponge. Kadavu, Fiji.

Apogon aureus Ringtailed cardinalfish

Apogon aureus, Ringtailed cardinalfish, Kadavu, Fiji
Apogon aureus, Ringtailed cardinalfish, Kadavu, Fiji

Apogon compressus Ochrestriped cardinalfish

Apogon compressus Ochrestriped or splitbanded cardinalfish
Apogon compressus, Split-banded cardinalfish, Lembeh Straits

FISH 6911 Apogon compressus, Split-banded cardinalfish, Lembeh Straits

Apogon chrysopomus Spotgill cardinalfish

Apogon chrysopomus Spotgill cardinalfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat

FISH 7187 Apogon chrysopomus Spotgill cardinalfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

Apogon chrysopomus Spotgill cardinalfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat

FISH 7188 Apogon chrysopomus Spotgill cardinalfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

Apogon chrysotaenia Yellowlined cardinalfish

Apogon chrysotaenia Yellowlined cardinalfish Kri Eco, Raja Ampat

FISH 8134 Apogon chrysotaenia Yellowlined cardinalfish Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

yellowstriped cardinalfish

FISH 8844 Apogon chrysotaenia Yellowlined cardinalfish Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

Apogon cyanosoma Yellowstriped cardinalfish

Apogon cyanosoma Yellowstriped cardinalfish, Kadavu, Fiji
Apogon cyanosoma Yellowstriped cardinalfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat

FISH 7170 Apogon cyanosoma Yellowstriped cardinalfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

Apogon exostigma Narrowstripe cardinalfish

Apogon exostigma Narrowstripe cardinalfish, Kadavu, Fiji

Apogon franssedai Faintbanded cardinalfish

faintbanded cardinalfish

FISH 4191 Apogon franssedai Faintbanded cardinalfish, photographed on house dive at Paradise Resort, Taveuni - this may be a new record for Fiji.

Apogon fraenatus Spurcheek cardinalfish

spurcheek cardinalfish

FISH 4223 Apogon fraenatus Spurcheek cardinalfish, Taveuni, Fiji.

Apogon hoeveni Frostfin cardinalfish

Apogon hoeveni Frostfin cardinalfish, Lembeh Strait

FISH 6476 Apogon hoeveni Frostfin cardinalfish, Lembeh Strait

Apogon hoeveni Frostfin cardinalfish, Lembeh Strait

FISH 6474 Apogon hoeveni Frostfin cardinalfish, Lembeh Strait

Apogon kallopterus Iridescent cardinalfish

Apogon kallopterus Iridescent cardinalfish, Kadavu, Fiji

Apogon leptacanthus Threadfin cardinalfish

Apogon leptacanthus Threadfin cardinalfish

Apogon multilineatus Manylined cardinalfish

Apogon multilineatus Manylined cardinalfish

Apogon nigrofasciatus Blackstripe cardinalfish

Apogon nigrofasciatus Blacklined cardinalfish
Apogon nigrofasciatus Blackstripe cardinalfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat

FISH 7614 Apogon nigrofasciatus Blackstripe cardinalfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

Apogon parvulus Redspot cardinalfish

Apogon parvulus Redspot cardinalfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

FISH 3038 Apogon parvulus Redspot cardinalfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Apogon parvulus Redspot cardinalfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

FISH 3042 Apogon parvulus Redspot cardinalfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Apogon thermalis Sangi cardinalfish

Apogon thermalis Sangi cardinalfish juvenile Raja Ampat West Papua

FISH 0498 Apogon thermalis Sangi cardinalfish juvenile Raja Ampat West Papua.

Archamia fucata Narrowlined cardinalfish

Archamia fucata narrowlined cardinalfish

FISH 4241 Archamia fucata Narrowlined cardinalfish, Taveuni, Fiji

Archamia fucata Narrowlined cardinalfish (Apogonidae), Taveuni, Fiji

Archamia fucata Narrowlined cardinalfish, Taveuni, Fiji

Archamia fucata Narrowlined cardinalfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

FISH 221 Archamia fucata Narrowlined cardinalfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

Cheilodipterus arabicus Red Sea Cardinalfish

Cheilodipterus arabicus Red Sea Cardinalfish

FISH 7137 Cheilodipterus arabicus Red Sea Cardinalfish

Cheilodipterus arabicus Red Sea Cardinalfish

FISH 7136 Cheilodipterus arabicus Red Sea Cardinalfish

Cheilodipterus artus Wolf cardinalfish

wold cardinalfish

FISH 4208 Cheilodipterus artus Wolf cardinalfish, Taveuni, Fiji.

Cheilodipterus artus wolf cardinalfish, Lembeh Straits

FISH 6903 Cheilodipterus artus, Wolf Cardinalfish, Lembeh Straits

Cheilodipterus isostigmus Toothy cardinalfish

Cheilodipterus isostigmus Toothy cardinalfish, Kadavu, Fiji

Cheilodipterus macrodon Tiger cardinalfish

Cheilodipterus macrodon Tiger cardinalfish, Kadavu, Fiji
tiger cardinallfish

FISH 2420 Cheilodipterus macrodon Tiger cardinalfish, Raja Ampat

Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus Fivelined cardinalfish

Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus Fivelined cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus bandanensis Banda cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus bandanensis Banda cardinalfish (Apogonidae) Taveuni, Fiji

FISH 4795 Ostorhinchus bandanensis Banda cardinalfish (Apogonidae) Taveuni, Fiji

Ostorhinchus properupta Coral cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus properupta Puerto Galera, Philippines

FISH 7284 Ostorhinchus properupta Coral cardinalfish, Puerto Galera, Philippines.

Pristiapogon kallopterus Iridescent cardinalfish

Pristiapogon kallopterus Iridescent cardinalfish (Apogondae) Taveuni, Fiji

FISH 4779 Pristiapogon kallopterus Iridescent cardinalfish Taveuni, Fiji

Pterapogon kauderni Banggai cardinalfish

Pterapogon kauderni, Banngai cardinalfish, Lembeh Strait

FISH 6506 Pterapogon kauderni, Banggai cardinalfish, Lembeh Strait

Pterapogon kauderni, Banggai cardinalfish, Lembeh Strait

FISH 6511 Pterapogon kauderni, Banngai cardinalfish, Lembeh Strait

Rhabdamia cypselurus Black-nosed cardinalfish

Rhabdamia cypselurus Black-nosed cardinalfish school Kri Eco, Raja Ampat

FISH Rhabdamia cypselurus Black-nosed cardinalfish school Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

FISH Rhabdamia cypselurus Black-nosed cardinalfish school Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

FISH 7953 Rhabdamia cypselurus Black-nosed cardinalfish school Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

FISH Rhabdamia cypselurus Black-nosed cardinalfish school Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

FISH 7949 Rhabdamia cypselurus Black-nosed cardinalfish school Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

Rhabdamia gracilis Slender cardinalfish

Small school of Rhabdamia gracilis Slender cardinalfish, Kadavu, Fiji

Sphaeramia nematoptera Pajama cardinalfish

Sphaeramia nematoptera Pajama cardinalfish, Nananuira, Fiji
Sphaeramia nematopterus Pajama Cardinalfish, Lembeh Straits

FISH 6905 Sphaeramia nematoptera, Pajama cardinalfish, Lembeh Straits

Sphaeramia orbicularis Orbicular cardinalfish

Sphaeramia orbicularis Orbicular cardinalfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

FISH 2320 Sphaeramia orbicularis Orbicular cardinalfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

 

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