Yellowstriped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus cyanosoma)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Ostorhinchus cyanosoma
- Common name
- Yellowstriped cardinalfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Apogonidae
- Genus
- Ostorhinchus
- Size
- 5–8 cm
- Depth
- 1–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- schooling, nocturnal
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Ostorhinchus cyanosoma reaches 8 cm. Indo-Pacific cardinalfish (Apogonidae) very distinctive by its pale blue-purple translucent body crossed by 6 parallel bright golden-yellow longitudinal lines. Lives in dense schools from 1 to 50 m in crevices and under table corals of entire Indo-Pacific (Red Sea to central Pacific). Nocturnal. Male mouth brooding. Iconic wide-angle photo subject for tight reflective schools in caves and coral shelters.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Yellowstriped cardinalfish?
- Yellowstriped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus cyanosoma) reaches 5–8 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Yellowstriped cardinalfish?
- Yellowstriped cardinalfish is found between 1–50 m deep.
- Is the Yellowstriped cardinalfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Yellowstriped cardinalfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Yellowstriped cardinalfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Ostorhinchus
Other species in the family Apogonidae
- Apogon imberbis - Cardinal fish
- Pterapogon kauderni - Banggai cardinalfish
- Sphaeramia nematoptera - Pajama cardinalfish
- Apogon kiensis - Rifle cardinalfish
- Zoramia leptacantha - Threadfin cardinalfish
- Apogonichthyoides melas - Black cardinalfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 319876)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2397348)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia