Home · Apogonidae · Shining cardinalfish
Shining cardinalfish (Apogon nitidus) — Apogonidae

Shining cardinalfish

Apogon nitidus
Family: Apogonidae

The Shining cardinalfish (Apogon nitidus) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–15.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Mozambique

Want the complete picture on the Shining cardinalfish?

Get the app

Description

The Shining 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, often reddish or semi-translucent body with large eyes and two dorsal fins. As a nocturnal fish it shelters by day in crevices, caves and under overhanging reef 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 Shining cardinalfish?

The Shining cardinalfish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Shining cardinalfish live?

The Shining cardinalfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Mozambique

How big does the Shining cardinalfish get?

The Shining cardinalfish grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Shining cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Shining 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 Shining cardinalfish?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Shining cardinalfish sourced
Scientific name
Apogon nitidus
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Bluespot cardinalfish; Bluespot cardinal verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Mozambique 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 Apogon

More from the family Apogonidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Shining cardinalfish?

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

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