Ostorhinchus atrogaster (Smith & Radcliffe, 1912)
Blackbelly cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus atrogaster
photo by Radcliffe, L.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  5.9 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range - 82 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Philippines and Western Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8; Vertebrae: 24-24. Redescription of the holotype: dorsal fin, 2 supernumerary spines on first pterygiophore, first spine missing; anal fin with 1 supernumerary spine on first pterygiophore, second spine in serial association with first pterygiophore, the following ray is branched; principal caudal rays 9+8, branched caudal rays 8+7; upper gill arch with 3 rudiments and 5 developed gill rakers, lower gill arch without rudiments and 19 developed gill rakers; villiform teeth in several rows on the premaxilla; 1 row on the dentary, 1 on the palatine and vomer; none on ectopterygoid, endopterygoid or basihyal; scales none; hypurals 3 and 4 partially fused, hypurals 1, 2 and 5 free; one pair of slender uroneurals; 3 epurals; a free parhypural; 3 supraneurals as 0/0/0/ in association with anterior neural spines, none procumbent; no supramaxilla; posttemporal serrate on posterior margin; preopercle ridge smooth, edges serrate on posterior vertical and ventral horizontal margins; infraorbital edge smooth.; no color remains on the body. Species authors described the color pattern as: ground color cream-buff; traces of a slightly decurved, silvery-white band from scapula to base of caudal; tip of chin and snout to middle of eye dusky black; dusky points on head; iris silvery; tip of spinous dorsal, blackish; caudal dusky distally; other fins hyaline; peritoneum silvery white; stomach jet black (Ref. 91763).
Biology:  Found in inshore reef areas. Nocturnal species (Ref. 7300). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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