Teleostei (teleosts) >
Kurtiformes (Nurseryfishes, cardinalfishes.) >
Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes) > Apogoninae
Etymology: Apogon: Greek, a = without + Greek pogon = chin, beard (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 75 m (Ref. 9626), usually 12 - 60 m (Ref. 7251). Tropical; - 24°S
Western Atlantic: southern Florida, USA and Bahamas to São Paulo, Brazil (Ref. 57756).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9626)
A small, stubby, plain pale red cardinal fish with a smudgy bar (sometimes tiny) on caudal peduncle.
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Found on coral, sand, or gravel bottoms. Sometimes associates with sea anemones, possibly as shelter from predators; it also lives in tubular sponges (Ref. 26938, 45560).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Mouthbrooders (Ref. 240). Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning (Ref. 205).
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray, 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p. (Ref. 7251)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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