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Species: Apogon mosavi, Dwarf Cardinalfish

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red; back with dark dots
large dark dots: cheek
tail base: long dark bar
fins clear
bands of simple teeth, no canines

Apogon mosavi Dale, 1977

Dwarf 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; 15 (rarely 13 or 16) 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, same size as lateral line scales; 3-8 scales on center of nape before dorsal fin; lateral line complete, extends onto base of tail fin.

Head and body reddish; upper body peppered with dark dots; larger dark dots on cheek and behind eye; a dark rectangular or oval bar at rear of tail base that nearly reaches to top and bottom of the tail base; fins clear.

Reaches 4.3 cm.

Lives on reefs, perhaps with anemones.

Depth: 12-40 m.

The Bahamas to the SW Caribbean.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
  • Bottom + water column
  • Mid Water
  • Near Bottom
Habitat
  • Reef only
  • Rocks
  • Water column
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Data
  • Planktivore
Diet
  • Data
  • Zooplankton
Egg Type
  • Brooded
  • Data
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Greater Caribbean endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • GC endemic
  • Insular primarily
  • Island (s)
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 4.3
Depth Range Min
  • 12
Depth Range Max
  • 40