In alcohol upper Y2 of body dusky, lower part yellowish;
tip of snout dark; usually a dark horizontal stripe from eye
to rear margin of opercle; a few dark spots on body under
LL. Attains over 10 cm. Rare in our area; Indo-Pacific;
south to Durban.
175.3 Apogon aureus
(Lacepede, 1802)
PLATE 48
Bandtail cardinal
Bandstert-kardinaal
Centropomus aureus Lacepede , 1802: 253, 273 (M!luritius) . Apogon
fleurieu: Smith , SFSA No. 481 *. Ostorhynchus fleurieu Smith, 1961: 399*.
D VII + 1,9; A 11,8; P 14; LL 28; 4-5 pre dorsal scales; OR (5-7)+(15-19)
(developed OR 17-23). Depth 2.3-2.7, head 2.5-2.7 in SL; eye 2.7-3 .2 in
head. Villiform teeth on both jaws, a patch of slightly larger in curved
teeth on symphysis of lower jaw.
In alcohol, head dusky and body light yellow, variably
spotted; a wide dark band encircling peduncle at C base
(usually a large caudal spot in fish < 50 mm SL); snout dark;
anterior spines of all fins dusky; upper section of gill
chamber and bases of G R on upper limb of gill arches dusky
to dark in specimens of 35-40 mm SL; dark pigment spreading ventrally in larger fishes; sometimes small dark spots
present in LL; a dark narrow stripe along A base (may not
be apparent in fish < 40 mm SL) . The genus name Ostorhynchus and species fleurieu that have been used by
many authors for this controversial species are considered
invalid (Fraser, 1972). Attains about 12 cm. A common
Indo-West Pacific species; Red Sea south to Durban.
175.4 Apogon coccineus
Ruppell,1838
PLATE 48
Ruby cardinal
Robyn-kardinaal
Apogon coccineus Riippell, 1838: 88, PI. 22 , Fig. 5 (Red Sea); Smith ,
1961: 387*. Apogon camp belli Smith, SFSA No. 479a* (Delagoa Bay) .
D VI+I,9; A 11,8; P 13-14; 6-8 predorsal scales ; LL 25-26; OR
(3-4)+(11-12) (developed OR 8-9). Depth 2.6-2.9, head 2.6-2.9 in SL;eye
2.9-3.1 in head . Mouth subterminal; ventral edge of preoperc\e poorly
ossified, appears in the form of a wide flap.
Alive as illustrated; in alcohol light yellow, margin of dorsal scales dark. Attains 5 cm. Widespread in Indo-Pacific;
Red Sea south to Sodwana.
175.5 Apogon cookii
Macleay, 1881
PLATES 48 & 51
Blackbanded cardinal
Swartband-kardinaal
Apogon cookii Macleay, 1881: 344 (Queensland). Apogon novemfasciatus (non Cuvier): Smith, SFSA No. 487*. Ostorhynchus endekataenia
(non Bleeker): Smith, 1961: 399*. Apogon melanotaenia: Smith, 1980: 177.
175: APOGONIDAE (CARDINAL FISHES)
D VII + 1,9; A 11,8; P 15; LL 28; predorsal scales 3-4; OR (4-5)+(12-14)
(developed OR 11-14) . Depth 2.7-2.8, head 2.6-2.7 in SL; eye 2.6-3.0 in
head. A member of the dark-striped species complex .
In alcohol: stripes as in illustration, 1st D and V dusky to
dark; basal stripe on 2nd D rays of males black, occupying
about 1/3 of fin height, the stripe much narrower in females.
Attains 10 cm. Indo-Pacific; common in western Indian
Ocean, south to Durban.
175.6 Apogon cyanosoma
Bleeker, 1853
PLATE 48
Goldenstriped cardinal
Gouestreep-kardinaal
Apogon cyanosoma Bleeker, 1853: 71 (East Indies). Ostorhynchus
cyanosoma: Smith, 1961: 403*.
D VII + 1,9; A 11,8; P 14; LL 28 ; predorsal scales3; OR (6-7)+(15-16).
Depth 2.7-2.9, head 2.7 in SL; eye about 3.0 in head.
Body pale with orange horizontal stripes arranged as in
dark-striped species, including a short postocular stripe
reaching under origin of 2nd D; snout dusky; light interspaces on head silvery. Schools of this species are often
seen among the long spines of sea urchins. Attains 8 cm.
Common from Mozambique Id . northward, in Red Sea,
Indo-West Pacific.
175.7 Apogon enigmaticus
(Smith,1961)
Diamond cardinal
Diamant-kardinaal
Apogonichthyoides enigmaticus Smith; 1961 : 396, PI. 50, Fig. 1
(Durban) . Apogon monochrous (non Bleeker): Barnard, 1927: 517 .
D VII+I,9; A 11,8; P 15; LL 24 (to end of hypurals; C missing);
predorsal scales 3-4; OR 6+ 15 (developed OR 15). Depth 2.3, head 2.6 in
SL; eye 3.2 in head. Some teeth on side of lower jaw enlarged.
Colour in life unknown; in alcohol, body brown with dark
edges of scales forming network; few dark spots on nape
and top of head. Known from a single specimen found in the
South African Museum. Although in generally poor conditions, body scales, GR and dentition were examined and
did not agree with any known western Indian Ocean
species. It was given a new name "chiefly for the purposes of
record in case further specimens come to light". Attains 10
cm . Durban.
175.7 Apogon enigmaticus: 8 em holotype (off Durban).
549
tip of snout dark; usually a dark horizontal stripe from eye
to rear margin of opercle; a few dark spots on body under
LL. Attains over 10 cm. Rare in our area; Indo-Pacific;
south to Durban.
175.3 Apogon aureus
(Lacepede, 1802)
PLATE 48
Bandtail cardinal
Bandstert-kardinaal
Centropomus aureus Lacepede , 1802: 253, 273 (M!luritius) . Apogon
fleurieu: Smith , SFSA No. 481 *. Ostorhynchus fleurieu Smith, 1961: 399*.
D VII + 1,9; A 11,8; P 14; LL 28; 4-5 pre dorsal scales; OR (5-7)+(15-19)
(developed OR 17-23). Depth 2.3-2.7, head 2.5-2.7 in SL; eye 2.7-3 .2 in
head. Villiform teeth on both jaws, a patch of slightly larger in curved
teeth on symphysis of lower jaw.
In alcohol, head dusky and body light yellow, variably
spotted; a wide dark band encircling peduncle at C base
(usually a large caudal spot in fish < 50 mm SL); snout dark;
anterior spines of all fins dusky; upper section of gill
chamber and bases of G R on upper limb of gill arches dusky
to dark in specimens of 35-40 mm SL; dark pigment spreading ventrally in larger fishes; sometimes small dark spots
present in LL; a dark narrow stripe along A base (may not
be apparent in fish < 40 mm SL) . The genus name Ostorhynchus and species fleurieu that have been used by
many authors for this controversial species are considered
invalid (Fraser, 1972). Attains about 12 cm. A common
Indo-West Pacific species; Red Sea south to Durban.
175.4 Apogon coccineus
Ruppell,1838
PLATE 48
Ruby cardinal
Robyn-kardinaal
Apogon coccineus Riippell, 1838: 88, PI. 22 , Fig. 5 (Red Sea); Smith ,
1961: 387*. Apogon camp belli Smith, SFSA No. 479a* (Delagoa Bay) .
D VI+I,9; A 11,8; P 13-14; 6-8 predorsal scales ; LL 25-26; OR
(3-4)+(11-12) (developed OR 8-9). Depth 2.6-2.9, head 2.6-2.9 in SL;eye
2.9-3.1 in head . Mouth subterminal; ventral edge of preoperc\e poorly
ossified, appears in the form of a wide flap.
Alive as illustrated; in alcohol light yellow, margin of dorsal scales dark. Attains 5 cm. Widespread in Indo-Pacific;
Red Sea south to Sodwana.
175.5 Apogon cookii
Macleay, 1881
PLATES 48 & 51
Blackbanded cardinal
Swartband-kardinaal
Apogon cookii Macleay, 1881: 344 (Queensland). Apogon novemfasciatus (non Cuvier): Smith, SFSA No. 487*. Ostorhynchus endekataenia
(non Bleeker): Smith, 1961: 399*. Apogon melanotaenia: Smith, 1980: 177.
175: APOGONIDAE (CARDINAL FISHES)
D VII + 1,9; A 11,8; P 15; LL 28; predorsal scales 3-4; OR (4-5)+(12-14)
(developed OR 11-14) . Depth 2.7-2.8, head 2.6-2.7 in SL; eye 2.6-3.0 in
head. A member of the dark-striped species complex .
In alcohol: stripes as in illustration, 1st D and V dusky to
dark; basal stripe on 2nd D rays of males black, occupying
about 1/3 of fin height, the stripe much narrower in females.
Attains 10 cm. Indo-Pacific; common in western Indian
Ocean, south to Durban.
175.6 Apogon cyanosoma
Bleeker, 1853
PLATE 48
Goldenstriped cardinal
Gouestreep-kardinaal
Apogon cyanosoma Bleeker, 1853: 71 (East Indies). Ostorhynchus
cyanosoma: Smith, 1961: 403*.
D VII + 1,9; A 11,8; P 14; LL 28 ; predorsal scales3; OR (6-7)+(15-16).
Depth 2.7-2.9, head 2.7 in SL; eye about 3.0 in head.
Body pale with orange horizontal stripes arranged as in
dark-striped species, including a short postocular stripe
reaching under origin of 2nd D; snout dusky; light interspaces on head silvery. Schools of this species are often
seen among the long spines of sea urchins. Attains 8 cm.
Common from Mozambique Id . northward, in Red Sea,
Indo-West Pacific.
175.7 Apogon enigmaticus
(Smith,1961)
Diamond cardinal
Diamant-kardinaal
Apogonichthyoides enigmaticus Smith; 1961 : 396, PI. 50, Fig. 1
(Durban) . Apogon monochrous (non Bleeker): Barnard, 1927: 517 .
D VII+I,9; A 11,8; P 15; LL 24 (to end of hypurals; C missing);
predorsal scales 3-4; OR 6+ 15 (developed OR 15). Depth 2.3, head 2.6 in
SL; eye 3.2 in head. Some teeth on side of lower jaw enlarged.
Colour in life unknown; in alcohol, body brown with dark
edges of scales forming network; few dark spots on nape
and top of head. Known from a single specimen found in the
South African Museum. Although in generally poor conditions, body scales, GR and dentition were examined and
did not agree with any known western Indian Ocean
species. It was given a new name "chiefly for the purposes of
record in case further specimens come to light". Attains 10
cm . Durban.
175.7 Apogon enigmaticus: 8 em holotype (off Durban).
549