Fowleria vaiulae (Jordan & Seale, 1906)
Mottled cardinalfish
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 25 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Persian Gulf (Ref.80050), Red Sea, Mauritius and Rodriguez to the Line Islands and Tonga, north to Japan, south to northern Australia, New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Mottled brown with 6 to 8 pale bars and 3 to 4 dark bands radiating from the eye (Ref. 37816). Description: Characterized by absence of dark spot on opercle; incomplete lateral line with 9-11 tubed scales; greatest depth of body 2.7-2.9 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Occurs inshore in reef areas (Ref. 7300) among Acropora corals (Ref. 37816). Feeds on small invertebrates (Ref. 89972). Solitary and cryptic (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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