Species: Apogon lachneri, Whitestar Cardinalfish

Apogon lachneri Bohlke, 1959

Whitestar 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; 16 (16-17) 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; 3-8 scales present on center of nape before dorsal fin; lateral line scales not enlarged; lateral line complete, extends onto base of tail fin.

Pink to salmon; a bright white spot (bordered before, and sometimes behind, by a black spot) on top of tail base immediately behind 2nd dorsal fin; a large dark area behind spine II on the 1st dorsal; front tips of 2nd dorsal and anal fins dark.

Reaches 6.5 cm.

Lives on reefs.

Depth: 5-106 m.

The Bahamas to the S Caribbean.