Species: Apogon leptocaulus, Slendertail Cardinalfish

Apogon leptocaulus Gilbert, 1972

Slendertail 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 extends beyond edge of preoperculum; 5-6 + 15-16 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 on center of nape before dorsal fin; lateral line scales not enlarged; lateral line complete, extends onto base of tail fin.

Head and body red; 3 thick indistinct dark bars or saddles on body – 1 under each dorsal fin and one across the rear of the tail base; rear edge of tail fin dark.

Reaches 6 cm.

Reefs.

Depth: 18-158 m.

The Bahamas to the SW Caribbean.