| Family: |
Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae |
| Max. size: |
3.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 18 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: from the Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands of Japan to northwestern Australia and Queensland. Also recorded from Tonga (Ref. 90102). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: dorsal fin rays VI-I, 9; anal fin rays II, 8; pectoral fin rays 15; pelvic fin rays I, 5; pored lateral line scales 23; predorsal scales 6; circumpeduncular scales 12; total gill rakers 13-14, developed gill rakers 7-8 (Ref. 093839); body uniformly black and all fins pinkish except for pectoral. Head large. Similar to S. versicolor, but distinguished by 6 spines on the first dorsal (7 in S. versicolor). Body and weakly ctenoid scales covered with a mucous membrane. A luminous organ is present inside the translucent thorax muscles, containing symbiotic luminescent bacteria. |
| Biology: |
Commensal with sea urchins and crown of thorns starfish (Ref. 27362). Occurs in small groups, also found in sheltered reefs and adjacent sand, rubble and rocky bottoms (Ref 90102). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 August 2023 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
