Teleostei (teleosts) >
Kurtiformes (Nurseryfishes, cardinalfishes.) >
Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes) > Apogoninae
Etymology: Apogon: Greek, a = without + Greek pogon = chin, beard (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Linnaeus.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 10 - 200 m (Ref. 4738). Subtropical; 45°N - 5°S, 32°W - 36°E
Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea: Portugal to Morocco and the Azores. Elsewhere, southward to Gulf of Guinea.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - 5.5 cm
Max length : 15.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4738); max. reported age: 5 years (Ref. 93355)
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Eye very large, much greater than snout. Pectoral fin long, reaching at least origin of anal fin. Preopercular edge only slightly serrated, preopercular ridge smooth. Body and fins red or pink, back and upper surface of head dusky. Two or three dark spots, sometimes joined, along base of caudal fin.
Occasionally forms schools; sometimes solitary. Inhabits muddy or rocky bottoms and caves (Ref. 4738). A sciaphilous species thriving in a number of shady/dark habitats and frequents marine caves, where it forms large schools (Ref. 118281). Feeds on small invertebrates and fishes (Ref. 4738). Observed to feed in the water column and just over the bottom, always at night; 93.4% of observed events occurring outside the caves, usually on rocky bottoms and Posidonia oceanica meadows, and to a lesser extent on pebbles (Ref. 118281). Oral brooding by males (Ref. 4738).
Males incubate eggs in buccal cavity (Ref. 205, 4738, 74407). Embryos do not feed externally in the buccal cavity. Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning (Ref. 205). Internal fertilization and paternal care by mouthbrooding is found to be a rare combination of reproductive strategy (Ref. 74407). Also Ref. 240.
Tortonese, E., 1986. Apogonidae. p. 803-809. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. vol. 2. (Ref. 4738)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; bait:
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 13.3 - 20.9, mean 16.3 °C (based on 216 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01072 (0.00621 - 0.01850), b=3.10 (2.96 - 3.24), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.61 se; based on food items.
Generation time: 1.2 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 1
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.90; tmax=5).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (15 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 56.5 [28.7, 122.3] mg/100g; Iron = 0.811 [0.475, 1.384] mg/100g; Protein = 19.7 [18.6, 20.7] %; Omega3 = 0.291 [0.167, 0.487] g/100g; Selenium = 18.6 [8.6, 36.2] μg/100g; VitaminA = 54.9 [18.0, 172.0] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.05 [0.67, 1.59] mg/100g (wet weight);
