175.24 Apogon taeniatus
Ehrenberg, 1828
Twobelt cardinal
Tweeband-kardinaal
Apogon taeniatus Ehrenberg, in Cuv. & Val., 1828: 118 (Red Sea);
Smith, SFSA No. 483*. Apogonichthyoides taeniatus: Smith, 1961: 394*.
D VII+I,9; A 11,8; P 14-15; LL 27; predorsal scales 3; GR (4-5)+
(13-14) (developed GR 9-11). Depth and head about 2.4 in SL; eye 3-3.5
in head.
A dark vertical bar under each D; caudal spot present;
dark ocellus may be present above P, mainly in small fish; V
dark; anterior spines of D dark. May be confused with A.
nigripinnis, which has more developed GR, and lacks the
caudal spot as well as the lines on the body. Attains 10 cm.
Western Indian Ocean; Red Sea, south to Inhambane.
175.24 Apogon taeniatus: 10.5 em (S. Mozambique).
175.25 Apogon taeniophorus
Regan, 1908
PLATE 49
Ninestripe cardinal
Negestreep-kardinaal
Apogon taeniophorus Regan, 1908: 226 (Maldives).
D VII + 1,9; A 11,8; P 14; LL 28; predorsal scales 3-4; GR (4-5)+(12-14)
(developed GR 11-13). Depth and head 2.7-3.0 in SL; eye 2.6-2.8 in head.
This species belongs to the dark-striped species complex;
easily confused in our area with A. angustatus and A. cookii
see Key for differences). Caudal spot indistinct, sometimes
confluent with midlateral (3rd) stripe; first D and V dusky
to dark; basal stripe on 2nd D rays of males black, occupying about 1/3 of fin height. Attains 8 cm. Indian Ocean; south
to Sodwana Bay.
175.26 Apogon thermalis
Cuvier, 1829
PLATE 49
Masked cardinal
Gemaskerde-kardinaal
Apogon thermalis Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 492 (Ceylon). Apogon
sangiensis: Smith, SFSA No. 478*; 1961: 386*.
D VI + 1,9; A 11,8; P 14; LL 28; pre dorsal scales 4; GR (5-6)+(17-18).
Depth 2.6-2.7, head 2.3-2.5 in SL; eye 3.0-3.2 in head. Third or 4th dorsal
spine longest; tube of anterior nostril long.
175: APOGONIDAE (CARDINAL FISHES)
Dark stripe from snout through eye to angle of opercle;
tip of 1st D black; small caudal spot present. Attains 8 cm.
Indo-West Pacific; to southern Natal.
175.27 Apogon timorensis
Bleeker, 1854
PLATE 49
Sad cardinal
Treurige kardinaal
Apogon timorensis Bleeker, 1854: 207. Apogonichthyoides fraxineus
Smith, 1961: 396, PI. 48, Fig. D (Pinda, Mozambique).
D VII+I,9; A II,8; P 15-16; LL 28; predorsal scales 3; GR (3-4)+
(11-12) = 15-16 (developed GR 7-8). Depth and head 2.5-2.7 in SL; eye
2.8-3.0 in head.
Faint dusky vertical bar under each D; V dark; sometimes a dark line from lower margin of eye to angle of
preopercle; no caudal spot and no ocellus on body. Attains
9 cm. Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay.
Genus Apogonichthys Bleeker, 1854
Preopercle ridge and edge smooth; reduced supramaxilla;
LL complete, extending onto C; last LL scale elongate; no
palatine teeth; C rounded. About 4 nominal species, 2 in
our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Distinct round black ocellus on 1st D; long narrow
flap on front nostril .............................................. A. ocellatus
Ib No ocellus on 1st D; short flap on front nostril ............... A. perdix
175.28 Apogonichthys ocellatus
(Weber, 1913)
PLATE 49
Ocellated cardinal
Ogies-kardinaal
Apogon oce/latus Weber, 1913: 231 (East Indies). Apogonichthys ocellatus: Smith, 1961: 391 *.
D VII + 1,9; A II,8; P 15; LL 25; predorsal scales 4; GR 14-15 (developed
GR 5-6). Depth 2.6-2.8, head 2.3-2.5 in SL; eye 3.8-4.0 in head. Preoperde edge poorly ossified; anterior nostril with long flap.
175.28 Apogonichthys ocellatus: 4.5 em (Transkei).
553
Ehrenberg, 1828
Twobelt cardinal
Tweeband-kardinaal
Apogon taeniatus Ehrenberg, in Cuv. & Val., 1828: 118 (Red Sea);
Smith, SFSA No. 483*. Apogonichthyoides taeniatus: Smith, 1961: 394*.
D VII+I,9; A 11,8; P 14-15; LL 27; predorsal scales 3; GR (4-5)+
(13-14) (developed GR 9-11). Depth and head about 2.4 in SL; eye 3-3.5
in head.
A dark vertical bar under each D; caudal spot present;
dark ocellus may be present above P, mainly in small fish; V
dark; anterior spines of D dark. May be confused with A.
nigripinnis, which has more developed GR, and lacks the
caudal spot as well as the lines on the body. Attains 10 cm.
Western Indian Ocean; Red Sea, south to Inhambane.
175.24 Apogon taeniatus: 10.5 em (S. Mozambique).
175.25 Apogon taeniophorus
Regan, 1908
PLATE 49
Ninestripe cardinal
Negestreep-kardinaal
Apogon taeniophorus Regan, 1908: 226 (Maldives).
D VII + 1,9; A 11,8; P 14; LL 28; predorsal scales 3-4; GR (4-5)+(12-14)
(developed GR 11-13). Depth and head 2.7-3.0 in SL; eye 2.6-2.8 in head.
This species belongs to the dark-striped species complex;
easily confused in our area with A. angustatus and A. cookii
see Key for differences). Caudal spot indistinct, sometimes
confluent with midlateral (3rd) stripe; first D and V dusky
to dark; basal stripe on 2nd D rays of males black, occupying about 1/3 of fin height. Attains 8 cm. Indian Ocean; south
to Sodwana Bay.
175.26 Apogon thermalis
Cuvier, 1829
PLATE 49
Masked cardinal
Gemaskerde-kardinaal
Apogon thermalis Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 492 (Ceylon). Apogon
sangiensis: Smith, SFSA No. 478*; 1961: 386*.
D VI + 1,9; A 11,8; P 14; LL 28; pre dorsal scales 4; GR (5-6)+(17-18).
Depth 2.6-2.7, head 2.3-2.5 in SL; eye 3.0-3.2 in head. Third or 4th dorsal
spine longest; tube of anterior nostril long.
175: APOGONIDAE (CARDINAL FISHES)
Dark stripe from snout through eye to angle of opercle;
tip of 1st D black; small caudal spot present. Attains 8 cm.
Indo-West Pacific; to southern Natal.
175.27 Apogon timorensis
Bleeker, 1854
PLATE 49
Sad cardinal
Treurige kardinaal
Apogon timorensis Bleeker, 1854: 207. Apogonichthyoides fraxineus
Smith, 1961: 396, PI. 48, Fig. D (Pinda, Mozambique).
D VII+I,9; A II,8; P 15-16; LL 28; predorsal scales 3; GR (3-4)+
(11-12) = 15-16 (developed GR 7-8). Depth and head 2.5-2.7 in SL; eye
2.8-3.0 in head.
Faint dusky vertical bar under each D; V dark; sometimes a dark line from lower margin of eye to angle of
preopercle; no caudal spot and no ocellus on body. Attains
9 cm. Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay.
Genus Apogonichthys Bleeker, 1854
Preopercle ridge and edge smooth; reduced supramaxilla;
LL complete, extending onto C; last LL scale elongate; no
palatine teeth; C rounded. About 4 nominal species, 2 in
our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Distinct round black ocellus on 1st D; long narrow
flap on front nostril .............................................. A. ocellatus
Ib No ocellus on 1st D; short flap on front nostril ............... A. perdix
175.28 Apogonichthys ocellatus
(Weber, 1913)
PLATE 49
Ocellated cardinal
Ogies-kardinaal
Apogon oce/latus Weber, 1913: 231 (East Indies). Apogonichthys ocellatus: Smith, 1961: 391 *.
D VII + 1,9; A II,8; P 15; LL 25; predorsal scales 4; GR 14-15 (developed
GR 5-6). Depth 2.6-2.8, head 2.3-2.5 in SL; eye 3.8-4.0 in head. Preoperde edge poorly ossified; anterior nostril with long flap.
175.28 Apogonichthys ocellatus: 4.5 em (Transkei).
553