TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes)

Genus/species: Ostorhinchus aureus (Apogon aureus)

Ring-Tail Cardinalfish Ostorhinchus aureus13924803567_e8eb47a0af_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Coppery with iridescence, paler posteriorly; a blackish stripe, bordered by a blue line, running from front of snout through eye and beyond; a narrow blue streak on maxilla. Black bar encircling caudal peduncle present in both young and adult phases.Length 4.4-14.7 cm (1.75-5.8 inches).

IMG_5514

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Tropical Indo-West Pacific. Inhabits holes in rocks or under ledges in shallow waters. Depth range 1 – 40 m (3.2 to 130 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Benth crustaceans, zoobenthos, mobile invertebrates and small fishes.

REPRODUCTION: External fertilization, mouthbrooders.

CONSERVATION: IUCN; not evaluated.

References:

eol eol.org/pages/224893/details

flickr  www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/13924803567/in/set-7215…

fishbase.kaust.edu.sa/summary/Ostorhinchus-aureus.html

WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1gu