Banggai Cardinalfish
The Banggai cardinalfish is a small marine bony fish. The species is endemic to the Banggai Archipelago in Indonesia but has been introduced outside of its natural range through the ornamental live reef trade. The main threats to the Banggai cardinalfish are harvest for the ornamental live reef trade and habitat destruction. In 2016, NOAA Fisheries listed the species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more about the Banggai cardinalfish.
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Species Common Name
Appearance
The species is differentiated from all other cardinalfish by its tasseled first dorsal fin, elongated anal and second dorsal fin rays, and deeply forked caudal fin. It is brilliantly colored with contrasting black and light bars with whitish spots over a silvery body. The dot pattern is unique to individual fish and can be used to identify specimens. Generally, males and females look similar; however, on average, males have a larger mouth gape relative to their total body length and can be distinguished during brooding when their oral cavity becomes enlarged.
The Banggai cardinalfish feeds primarily on copepods, but it also eats planktonic organisms when they are abundant in the area.
Weight
Up to 0.025 pounds
Lifespan
Up to 5 years
Length
Up to 3.4 inches
Threats
Commercial harvest for the ornamental live reef trade
Habitat destruction
Location Description
The Banggai cardinalfish lives in shallow, calm waters among coral reefs and seagrass beds of the Banggai Archipelago, Indonesia.
Sustainable Seafood
Not Sustainable Seafood
In 2013, NOAA Fisheries received a petition (PDF, 538 pages) to list the Banggai cardinalfish as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. In our 90-day finding, we concluded that the petitioned action may be warranted. After completing a status review, we proposed to list the species as threatened and requested comments from the public. In 2016, NOAA Fisheries listed the Banggai cardinalfish as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Lifespan and Reproduction
The Banggai cardinalfish life span is approximately 2.5 to 3 years, with a maximum life span of up to 5 years. The species possesses several unique reproductive traits. Like many cardinalfishes, sex roles are reversed, and males provide parental care, brooding and hatching eggs in their mouths. Males release fully formed juveniles.
Threats
Commercial Harvest for the Ornamental Live Reef Trade
The Banggai cardinalfish is targeted for the ornamental live reef trade due to its colorful traits.
Habitat Destruction
The Banggai cardinalfish's coral reef habitat is destroyed by the use of fish bombs (typically made with fertilizer and phosphorus) and cyanide to catch fish for the live reef fish trade. Runoff from agriculture and human population growth, increase waste and nitrates in the marine environment, promoting algal blooms, which the light and oxygen available for corals.
Pterapogon kauderni
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Perciformes
Apogonidae
kauderni
Pterapogon
Species Status
ESA Threatened - Foreign
ESA Threatened - Foreign
- Throughout Its Range
Group Profile
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Species Profile Type
Protected