Species: Astrapogon puncticulatus, Blackfin Cardinalfish

Astrapogon puncticulatus (Poey, 1867)

Blackfin Cardinalfish

Body oblong, compressed, relatively deep head large, snout short, head profile rounded above eye; rear nostril vertically elongated; eye large; moderately large oblique mouth that opens at the front; top jaw wide, partly concealed when mouth is closed, scaleless; teeth small, usually present on center and sides of roof of mouth; preopercle edge smooth; 2+12-13 (rarely 14) gill rakers; dorsal fin VI +I, 9; anal fin II, 8; pectoral fin rays 16 (rarely 15 or 17); inner pelvic ray mostly not attached to body; pelvics large, reaching to or past middle of anal fin; tail fin bluntly straight to slightly convex; lateral line complete; 23-45 pored lateral line scales; lateral line complete, extends onto base of tail fin; body scales smooth; no row of scales on nape centerline before dorsal fin.

Head and body bronze with dark lines and blotches radiating back from eye; pelvics dark grey to black; body and remaining fins heavily stippled with black dots; front and tip of 1st dorsal blackish; rear edges of 2nd dorsal and anal fins & tips of caudal fin clear to whitish.

Reaches 10 cm.

Found in seagrass beds, often in dead (but not in live) conchs.

Depth range: 1-57 m.

Bermuda to Brazil.