APOGONIDAE


Apogon thermails
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Apogon thermails
Cuvier, 1829
Half-barred Cardinal

D VI+I, 9; A II, 8; P1 13-14; 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: head and body gray or gray brown, shading blackish gray posteriorly, except for whitish abdomen, breast and ventral half of head; a horizontal black stripe on head through eye; anterior nasal tube black; a small black spot (subequal or smaller than pupil) at midlateral caudal-fin base; two black dots on dorsal midline of body around origin and end of second dorsal fin; leading edge of first dorsal fin black. Size: 8 cm SL. Distribution: Indo-Pacific. Remarks: inhabits coral reefs; forming aggregations. Apogon sangiensis Bleeker, 1857 is a synonym (Allen and Randall, 2002).