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Plain cardinalfish (Apogon atricaudus) — Apogonidae

Plain cardinalfish

Apogon atricaudus
Family: Apogonidae

The Plain cardinalfish (Apogon atricaudus) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
9.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Plain cardinalfish is a cardinalfish (Apogonidae) from reef water of the eastern Pacific, around islands off Mexico. The species has a stocky, grey-brown with a dark tail base body with large eyes and two dorsal fins. As a nocturnal fish it shelters by day in crevices and among coral and hunts small zooplankton and small crustaceans by night. The male broods the eggs in his mouth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Plain cardinalfish?

The Plain cardinalfish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Plain cardinalfish live?

The Plain cardinalfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Plain cardinalfish get?

The Plain cardinalfish grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Plain cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Plain cardinalfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwartstaart-kardinaalbaars sourced
English name
Plain cardinalfish sourced
Scientific name
Apogon atricaudus
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Plain cardinalfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
9.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Apogon

More from the family Apogonidae

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