Home · Apogonidae · Midget cardinalfish
Midget cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus nanus) — Apogonidae

Midget cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus nanus
Family: Apogonidae

The Midget cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus nanus) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Midget 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, small and silvery with fine markings 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 Midget cardinalfish?

The Midget cardinalfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Midget cardinalfish live?

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

How big does the Midget cardinalfish get?

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

Is the Midget cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Midget cardinalfish is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Dwerg-kardinaalbaars sourced
English name
Midget cardinalfish sourced
Scientific name
Ostorhinchus nanus
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Tiny cardinalfish; Yellow-band cardinalfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) 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
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 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

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →