Taeniamia ataenia (Randall & Satapoomin, 1999)
Barless cardinalfish
Taeniamia ataenia
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  4.83 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 7 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: Andaman Sea and Mentawai Islands off southwestern Sumatra.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 14-16. Diagnosis: Dorsal rays VII,9; anal rays 11,14-16 (usually 15); pectoral rays 13-14 (usually 14). Lateral-line scales 25 + 3. Median predorsal scales 6-7. Gill rakers 5-6 + 15-16. Body depth 2.4-3.3 in SL, and body width 2.1-2.8 in the depth. Eye diameter 2.85-3.3 in head length> First dorsal spine 1.4-2.4 in second spine; second dorsal spine 2.5-3.2, and third dorsal spine 2.4-3.3, in head length; spine of second dorsal fin 2.2-2.7, and second anal spine 2.3-3.0, in head length; pelvic-fin length 4.5-5.1, and caudal-peduncle length 4.45.7 in SL. Distance from insertion of pelvic spine to anal-fin origin 4.2-5.9 in SL. Preopercular ridge smooth with a small flat spine at angle; the preopercular edge fully serrate; posterior edge of maxilla indented. Scaly sheath along anal-fin base moderately developed (Ref. 54391). Description: Color translucent gray with a small black spot at midbase of caudal fin, two narrow dusky orange bars on opercle; and a broad black stripe on side of snout, edged in iridescent blue-green lines that continue to iris of eye (Ref. 41635).
Biology:  Specimens collected from aggregations that took refuge in a colony of branching coral (Ref. 41635). Minimum depth taken from Ref. 57178.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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