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Flagfin cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus hoevenii) — Apogonidae

Flagfin cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus hoevenii
Family: Apogonidae

The Flagfin cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus hoevenii) is a brackish-water fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
20.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Flagfin cardinalfish is a cardinalfish (Apogonidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a stocky body with large eyes and two separate dorsal fins. The greyish body has a yellow tinge and a conspicuously flagged dorsal fin. As a nocturnal reef fish it shelters by day in crevices and under overhanging coral 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 Flagfin cardinalfish?

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

Where does the Flagfin cardinalfish live?

The Flagfin cardinalfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Flagfin cardinalfish get?

The Flagfin cardinalfish grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Flagfin cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Flagfin cardinalfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Vlagvin-kardinaalbaars sourced
English name
Flagfin cardinalfish sourced
Scientific name
Ostorhinchus hoevenii
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Flag-fin cardinalfish; Frostfin cardinalfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.0 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
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 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 Ostorhinchus

More from the family Apogonidae

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