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Glassy cardinalfish (Cercamia eremia) — Apogonidae

Glassy cardinalfish

Cercamia eremia
Family: Apogonidae

The Glassy cardinalfish (Cercamia eremia) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–40.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Christmas I., Guam, Indonesia, Japan and others

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Description

The glassy cardinalfish is a small cardinalfish (Apogonidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, partly translucent, reddish body with large eyes. As a nocturnal reef fish it shelters by day in crevices and caves and hunts small zooplankton at night. The male broods the eggs in his mouth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Glassy cardinalfish?

The Glassy cardinalfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Glassy cardinalfish live?

The Glassy cardinalfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Christmas I., Guam, Indonesia, Japan and others

How big does the Glassy cardinalfish get?

The Glassy cardinalfish grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Glassy cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Glassy 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.

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All data

Identification

English name
Glassy cardinalfish sourced
Scientific name
Cercamia eremia
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Glassy cardinalfish; Solitary cardinalfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
40.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Christmas I., Guam, Indonesia, Japan and others 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 Cercamia

More from the family Apogonidae

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