Home · Apogonidae · Yellowlined cardinalfish
Yellowlined cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus chrysotaenia) — Apogonidae

Yellowlined cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus chrysotaenia
Family: Apogonidae

The Yellowlined cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus chrysotaenia) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Brunei Darsm, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan and others

Want the complete picture on the Yellowlined cardinalfish?

Get the app

Description

The Yellowlined cardinalfish is a cardinalfish (Apogonidae) from shallow reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a stocky, silvery with yellow longitudinal lines 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 Yellowlined cardinalfish?

The Yellowlined cardinalfish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly yellow-gold.

Where does the Yellowlined cardinalfish live?

The Yellowlined cardinalfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Brunei Darsm, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan and others

How big does the Yellowlined cardinalfish get?

The Yellowlined cardinalfish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Yellowlined cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellowlined 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 Yellowlined cardinalfish?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Yellowlined cardinalfish sourced
Scientific name
Ostorhinchus chrysotaenia
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
High-fin cardinalfish; Many-lined cardinalfish; Yellowlined cardinalfish; High-fin cardinal verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Brunei Darsm, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, 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 Ostorhinchus

More from the family Apogonidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Yellowlined cardinalfish?

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

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