Cardinalfishes
Overview
Cardinalfishes belong to the Apogonidae family. They are widely distributed from warm temperate to tropical areas in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. Generally, most species are small, measuring below 10 cm in total length. They have a relatively large mouth and a double-edged preopercle. They are distinguished from the similarly looking glassfishes family by the division of their dorsal fin into 2 separate fins, and having 2 anal spines.Most cardinalfishes are nocturnal, spending the day in dark crevices. Most species occur in coral or rocky reefs, while some species inhabit seagrass beds, soft-bottom coastal area, estuaries and freshwater. They feed on zooplankton and small benthic invertebrates.
There are 32 genera and about 337 species of cardinalfishes worldwide.
Common Cardinalfishes Species
Scientific Name: Fibramia lateralis (Valenciennes, 1832)
English Name: Humpback Cardinalfish, Mangrove Cardinalfish, Pinstripe Cardinalfish
Japanese Name | 和名: ワキイシモチ (Waki ishimochi)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Sebekah Bongkok, Semangka, Serinding Bongkok
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาอมไข่ตาดา (Plā om k̄hị̀ tā dā)
Main Identification Features: Deep-bodied, head profile slightly concave. First and second dorsal fins separated. Front and tip of 1st dorsal black in color. Without a short and dark lateral streak along the dorsal part of the flank. A discreet or diffuse midline body stripe ending in a basicaudal spot smaller than the pupil of the eye.
Size: Maximum total length 11.0 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Brackish and lowland fresh waters. Found in aggregations, along with glassfishes species. Feeds on crustaceans and and other invertebrates.
Scientific Name: Ostorhinchus endekataenia (Bleeker, 1852)
English Name: Candystripe Cardinalfish, Eleven-stripe Cardinalfish, Eleven-banded Cardinal Fish, Many-striped Cardinal
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 小条纹天竺鲷 (Xiǎo tiáowén tiānzhú diāo)
Japanese Name | 和名: コスジイシモチ (Kosuji ishimochi)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Sebekah Jalur Tompok Besar, Seriding, Serodong, Semangka
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาอมไข่แถบ (Plā om k̄hị̀ t̄hæb)
Main Identification Features: Body pale or whitish with 6 red to brown stripes. In between the stripes there are incomplete stripes or rows of spots. Large black spot near base of caudal fin. Greatest depth of body 2.5 to 3.0 in standard length. Caudal fin emarginate.
Size: Maximum total length 14 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Often in sheltered habitats near coral and rocky reef, 1 to 15 m depth or probably deeper. Distributed in the Indo-West Pacific from Myanmar to western Indonesia, the Gulf of Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam and the southwestern Philippines. Nocturnal species - more active at night. Forms small or large aggregations. Feeds on small crustaceans and gastropods, and small fishes.
Scientific Name: Ostorhinchus fasciatus (White, 1790)
English Name: Four-banded Cardinalfish, Broadbanded Cardinalfish
Japanese Name | 和名: フウライイシモチ (Fuurai ishimochi)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Sebekah Dwijalur, Sebekah Dua Jalur, Semangka, Seriding, Serodong
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาอมไข่แถบกว้าง (Plā om k̄hị̀ t̄hæb kŵāng)
Main Identification Features: Generally white to dusky pinkish body colour, with 3-4 dark stripes on upper half of body.
Size: Maximum total length 10 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Sand and mud bottoms, 2 to 130 m depth, but usually found at 15 to 30 m depth. Generally occurs in pairs. Feeds mainly on zooplankton. Oral egg brooding by males.
Scientific Name: Ostorhinchus griffini (Seale, 1910)
English Name: Hookfin Cardinalfish
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Sebekah Merah, Seriding, Serodong
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาอมไข่ (Plā om k̄hị̀)
Main Identification Features: Second dorsal fin is hook-shape.
Size: Maximum standard length 13.5 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Rocky and weedy bottom, 2 to 10 m depth. Generally occurs in pairs. Feeds on benthic invertebrates. Oral egg brooding by males.
Scientific Name: Ostorhinchus pleuron (Fraser, 2005)
English Name: Rib-bar Cardinalfish
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Sebekah Rusuk, Sernangka, Serinding, Serodong
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาอมไข่ (Plā om k̄hị̀)
Main Identification Features: 2 brownish stripes on head and body. The middle stripe extends from snout to end of caudal fin. And another stripe from snout to over eye, and end about middle of second dorsal fin. A few variable vertical bars begin just past the pectoral fin.
Size: Maximum total length 10.4 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Open bottoms, 3 to 90 m depth. Occurs solitary or in small groups.
