Species: Apogon aurolineatus, Bridle Cardinalfish

Apogon aurolineatus (Mowbray, 1927)

Bridle Cardinalfish

Body oblong, compressed; head large, snout short; eye large; moderately large oblique mouth that opens at the front; top jaw wide, partly concealed when mouth is closed, scaleless; jaws with bands of small teeth, no canines; front and sides of roof of mouth with a band of small teeth; preopercle serrated, lower membranous flap not extending beyond edge of preoperculum; 10-11 lower gill rakers; dorsal fin VI + I, 9; anal fin II, 8; inner pelvic ray mostly not attached to body; pectoral 12; tail fin slightly concave; body scales rough; scales present on nape before dorsal fin; lateral line complete, extends onto base of tail fin; lateral line scales not enlarged.

Red to salmon to bronze; usually 2-4 indistinct short dark lines radiating from eye.

Reaches 6.5 cm.

Reefs and grass beds; lives with anemones.

Depth: 1-80 m.

Georgia to the S Caribbean.