Species: Apogon quadrisquamatus, Sawcheek Cardinalfish

Apogon quadrisquamatus Longley, 1934

Sawcheek 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 strongly serrated at angle, lower membranous flap not extending beyond edge of preoperculum; 13 (12-14) (rarely 14) 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 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, salmon or bronze; body finely speckled in black; a vertically elongate oval black spot at end of tail base that usually does not extend to the top and bottom of the tail base; often a triangular oblique dark bar down from eye; fins yellowish.

Reaches 7.8 cm.

Lives with anemones, sea urchins (Diadema) and sponges, on reefs, seagrass beds and rubble bottoms.

Depth: 1-107 m.

Georgia to Brazil.