APOGONIDAE


Apogon fleurieu, 8.6 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Apogon fleurieu
(Lacepède, 1802)
Flower Cardinalfish

D VII+I, 9; A II, 8; P1 13-15; LL 24.

Body oblong, moderately deep and compressed; lateral line well developed, extending posteriorly to caudalfin base. Snout moderately pointed. Posterior margin of preopercle serrated. No enlarged caninoid teeth on jaws. Base of anal fin subequal to base of second dorsal fin in length; caudal fin emarginate. Color: body bronze dorsally, bright yellow orange ventrally; a large black spot (in young) or broad black band (in adult), not broadened dorsally and ventrally, at posterior part of caudal peduncle; 2 bright blue longitudinal lines from snout to operculum, as well as a similar-colored oblique line along upper jaw; a small black spot on each lateral-line scales; fins reddish. Size: 11 cm SL. Distribution: Indo-Pacific. Remarks: inhabits coral or rocky reefs. Very similar to A. aureus (Lacepède, 1802), sometimes treated as a junior synonym of A. fleurieu, has a distinct black bar (broadened dorsally and ventrally, forming hourglassshaped, in adult) forming a ring around base of caudal fin.