Ring-tailed cardinalfish

Taxobox
name = "Ring-tailed cardinalfish"

---

image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Apogonidae
genus = "Apogon"
species = "A. aureus"
binomial = "Apogon aureus"
binomial_authority =

Range

Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to Japan, south to Australia.FishBase_species|genus=Apogon|species=aureus|year=2007|month=5]

Description

A coppery-coloured fish with a broad blackish bar at the base of the tail up to 14.5cm in length. The upper jaw has a narrow blue streak, and a broad blackish stripe extends from the front of the snout to the eye. Easily confused with "Apogon fleurieu"Lieske, E. and Myers, R.F. (2004) "Coral reef guide; Red Sea" London, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-715986-2] , where the black tail bar does not narrow in the centre, but unlike this species the stripe is also present in juveniles.

Habitat

Inhabits holes in rocks or under ledges in shallow waters. Known to occur in mixed aggregates with "Apogon apogonoides" during summer and autumn, but form separate aggregates in winter and spring.

References