Home · Apogonidae · Blackfoot cardinalfish
Blackfoot cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus nigripes) — Apogonidae

Blackfoot cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus nigripes
Family: Apogonidae

The Blackfoot cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus nigripes) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: South Africa

Want the complete picture on the Blackfoot cardinalfish?

Get the app

Description

The Blackfoot cardinalfish is a cardinalfish (Apogonidae) from shallow reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a stocky, silvery with dark pelvic fins body with large eyes and two dorsal fins. As a nocturnal fish it shelters by day among coral and in crevices 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 Blackfoot cardinalfish?

The Blackfoot cardinalfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Blackfoot cardinalfish live?

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

How big does the Blackfoot cardinalfish get?

The Blackfoot cardinalfish grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Blackfoot cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackfoot cardinalfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blackfoot cardinalfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blackfoot cardinalfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Blackfoot cardinalfish sourced
Scientific name
Ostorhinchus nigripes
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Blackfoot cardinal verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
Africa: South Africa sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Ostorhinchus

More from the family Apogonidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blackfoot cardinalfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blackfoot cardinalfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Blackfoot cardinalfish? Get the app