Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Pterapogon kauderni
- Common name
- Banggai cardinalfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Apogonidae
- Genus
- Pterapogon
- Size
- 6–8 cm
- Depth
- 1–16 m
- IUCN status
- Endangered (EN)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, seagrass
- Behaviours
- schooling, pair
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Pterapogon kauderni reaches 8 cm. Cardinalfish with very distinctive cream-white pattern with 3 large vertical black bars (on head, middle, tail) and silver-white spots scattered on flanks and elaborate fins. Strict endemic of Banggai Islands (Sulawesi, Indonesia). Listed EN by IUCN following massive aquarium collection (up to 700,000/year in 90s). Lives in schools around Diadema sea urchins (anti-predator refuge) and anemones. Mouth brooding by male. Iconic photo subject of Lembeh dives.
Photo of Banggai cardinalfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Banggai cardinalfish?
- Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) reaches 6–8 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Banggai cardinalfish?
- Banggai cardinalfish is found between 1–16 m deep.
- Is the Banggai cardinalfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Banggai cardinalfish?
- IUCN status: Endangered (EN).
- Where can you find the Banggai cardinalfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the family Apogonidae
- Apogon imberbis - Cardinal fish
- Sphaeramia nematoptera - Pajama cardinalfish
- Apogon kiensis - Rifle cardinalfish
- Zoramia leptacantha - Threadfin cardinalfish
- Ostorhinchus cyanosoma - Yellowstriped cardinalfish
- Ostorhinchus compressus - Ochre-striped cardinalfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 282494)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2397627)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia