Home · Apogonidae · Redspot cardinalfish
Redspot cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus parvulus) — Apogonidae

Redspot cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus parvulus
Family: Apogonidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Redspot cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus parvulus) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–12.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Redspot cardinalfish?

Get the app

Description

The redspot cardinalfish is a small cardinalfish from the Western Pacific. The species grows to about 4 cm and has a translucent, reddish body with large eyes and a few red accents. As a nocturnal reef fish it shelters by day in crevices and among coral and hunts small zooplankton at night. Like other cardinalfishes the male broods the eggs in its mouth. The fish is harmless to humans and has no commercial value. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Redspot cardinalfish?

The Redspot cardinalfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly red-orange and shows a plain pattern. Translucent body with large eyes; the male broods eggs in his mouth

Where does the Redspot cardinalfish live?

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

How big does the Redspot cardinalfish get?

The Redspot cardinalfish grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Redspot cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Redspot 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.

Is the Redspot cardinalfish edible?

The Redspot cardinalfish is not usually eaten.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Redspot cardinalfish?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Redspot cardinalfish verified
Scientific name
Ostorhinchus parvulus
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Red-spot cardinalfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
12.0 verified
Natural range
Western Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Nocturnal reef cardinalfish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Translucent body with large eyes; the male broods eggs in his mouth sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
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 Redspot cardinalfish?

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

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