Ryan Photographic - Apogonidae - Cardinalfishes

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 aureus Ringtailed cardinalfish

Apogon compressus Ochrestriped cardinalfish

Apogon chrysopomus Spotgill cardinalfish

Apogon chrysotaenia Yellowlined cardinalfish

Apogon cyanosoma Yellowstriped cardinalfish

Apogon exostigma Narrowstripe cardinalfish

Apogon franssedai 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

FISH 4223 Apogon fraenatus Spurcheek cardinalfish, Taveuni, Fiji.

Apogon hoeveni Frostfin cardinalfish

Apogon kallopterus Iridescent cardinalfish

Apogon leptacanthus Threadfin cardinalfish

Apogon multilineatus Manylined cardinalfish

Apogon nigrofasciatus Blackstripe cardinalfish

Apogon parvulus Redspot cardinalfish

Apogon thermalis Sangi cardinalfish

Archamia fucata Narrowlined cardinalfish

FISH 4241 Archamia fucata Narrowlined cardinalfish, Taveuni, Fiji

Archamia fucata Narrowlined cardinalfish, Taveuni, Fiji

Cheilodipterus arabicus Red Sea Cardinalfish

Cheilodipterus artus Wolf cardinalfish

FISH 4208 Cheilodipterus artus Wolf cardinalfish, Taveuni, Fiji.

Cheilodipterus isostigmus Toothy cardinalfish

Cheilodipterus macrodon Tiger cardinalfish

Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus Fivelined cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus bandanensis Banda cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus properupta Coral cardinalfish

Pristiapogon kallopterus Iridescent cardinalfish

Pterapogon kauderni Banggai cardinalfish

Rhabdamia cypselurus Black-nosed cardinalfish

Rhabdamia gracilis Slender cardinalfish

Sphaeramia nematoptera Pajama cardinalfish

Sphaeramia orbicularis Orbicular cardinalfish

Fishes

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