Nectamia savayensis (Günther, 1872)
Samoan cardinalfish
Nectamia savayensis
photo by Cook, D.C.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  10 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 25 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Inhaca Island (Ref. 4329) and east to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef and Rapa.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Body is coppery or silvery with a dark saddle on the upper half of the caudal peduncle; wedge shaped bar below eye (Ref. 2334, 48635). Greatest depth of body 2.2-2.5 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found in protected coastal and seaward reef slopes in oceanic locations, to 15 m depth; secretive and rarely seen during daytime (Ref. 48635). Feeds on ostracods, amphipods, shrimps, and polychaetes (Ref. 37816).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 February 2021 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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