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Banggai Cardinalfish

Banggai Cardinalfish

Pterapogon kauderni

640x427-Banggai-Cardinalfish.jpg

Protected Status

ESA Threatened - Foreign
Throughout Its Range

Quick Facts

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
Region
Foreign
See Regulatory Actions
banggai_cardinalfish.jpg Banggai cardinalfish - Photo: NOAA Fisheries

Banggai cardinalfish - Photo: NOAA Fisheries

About the Species

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.

Protected Status

ESA Threatened - Foreign

  • Throughout Its Range

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 feeds 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 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.

Scientific Classification

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

In the Spotlight

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

Petition to Issue Protective Regulations for Banggai Cardinalfish under Endangered Species Act

We, NOAA Fisheries, announce receipt of a petition to promulgate a rulemaking under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to provide for the conservation of the Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni). Specifically, the petition requests that we extend…
Notice
Published

Initiation of a 5-Year Review of the Banggai Cardinalfish

NOAA Fisheries announces the initiation of a 5-year review for the Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni). NMFS is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure that the listing classifications of species are…
Information Gathering
,
National
Published

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

More Information

Science Overview

Documents

Document

Status Review for Banggai Cardinalfish, Pterapogon kauderni

This report is the status review for the Banggai cardinalfish. This report summarizes the best…

More Documents