Banggai Cardinalfish

Protected Status

ESA Threatened - Foreign

Throughout Its Range

Quick Facts

Weight

Up to 0.025 pounds

Length

Up to 3.4 inches

Lifespan

Up to 5 years

Threats

Commercial harvest for the ornamental live reef trade, Habitat destruction

Region

Foreign

Banggai cardinalfish. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.

About the Species

Banggai cardinalfish. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.

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.

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.

Behavior and Diet

The Banggai cardinalfish feed primarily on copepods, but it also eats planktonic organisms when they are abundant in the area.

Where They Live

The Banggai cardinalfish lives in shallow, calm waters among coral reefs and seagrass beds of the Banggai Archipelago, Indonesia.

Lifespan & Reproduction

The Banggai cardinalfish life span is approximately 2.5 to 3 years with a maximum lifespan 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.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Actinopterygii
Order	Perciformes
Family	Apogonidae
Genus	Pterapogon
Species	kauderni

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 10/18/2023

Management Overview

The Banggai cardinalfish is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act

Regulatory History

In 2013, NOAA Fisheries received a petition 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.

Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents

Proposed Protective Regulations for the Banggai Cardinalfish

Under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) shall issue protective regulations the Secretary deems necessary and advisable for the conservation of species listed as threatened. The Secretary may apply…

Proposed Rule,

National

Published

August 15, 2023

5-Year Review of the Banggai Cardinalfish

In 2021, NOAA Fisheries announced the initiation of a 5-year review for the Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni). NOAA Fisheries is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure that the listing…

Notice of Initiation; request for information (86 FR 16326, March 29, 2021)

Banggai Cardinalfish 5-Year Review (2021)

Notice,

National

Published

October 28, 2021

Listing the Banggai Cardinalfish Under the Endangered Species Act

In response to a petition, we, NOAA Fisheries, issue a final rule to list the Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have also determined that the proposed listing of Harrisson's…

Final Rule,

National

Effective

February 19, 2016

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 10/18/2023

Documents

Document