Bandfin Cardinalfish

Description: Characterized by grey color on upper back; sides light brown or pinkish; black bar across caudal fin base; black submarginal band with white outer margins on base of caudal fin; dorsal and anal fins with broad dark basal bands; greatest depth of body 2.6-3.2 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Mouthbrooders (Ref. 240). Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 8

Is a nocturnal predator that feeds mostly on free-swimming crustaceans (Ref. 13550).

Inhabits seaward reefs, in rocky and coralline areas. In or near shelter by day (Ref. 9710). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds on free-swimming crustaceans (Ref. 13550). Solitary or in small groups (Ref 90102).

aquarium: commercial

Apogon menesemus Jenkins

Apogon menesemus Jenkins, 1903:448, fig. 19 [type-locality: Honolulu].

DIAGNOSIS.—A complete, dark vertical bar near base of caudal fin joining the dark streaks on the upper and lower caudal fin lobes.

DESCRIPTION.—Morphometric and meristic characters are treated in Tables 1–3. For general shape and pigment pattern see Figure 9. Proportions (as percent standard length): body depth 32.7–39.4; head length 39.3–42.7; eye length 11.7–14.5; snout length 9.5–11.6; bony interorbital width 7.8–9.9; upper jaw length 19.0–21.9; caudal peduncle depth 13.1–18.1; caudal peduncle length 23.5–28.1; dorsal spine lengths—first 1.7–4.5, second 9.0–11.8, third 17.6–20.3, fourth 14.4–21.4, spine in second dorsal 11.6–16.3; anal spine lengths—First 1.8–2.9, second 10.6–14.3; pectoral fin length 20.0–25.8; pelvic fin length 21.4–25.9.

Second dorsal fin I, 9; 2 anal spines; pectoral fin usually 13 rarely 12; pelvic fin 1, 5; well-developed gillrakers 16–17 (3 upper arch + 13 to 14 lower arch); including rudiments 21–23 (2 to 3 rudiments + 3 rakers upper arch; 13 to 14 rakers + 3 to 4 rudiments lower arch); pored lateral-line scales 25; transverse scale rows above the lateral line 2; median predorsal scales 5–6; circumpeduncular scales 16–18 (6 to 7 + 2 + 8 to 9).

COLOR OF PRESERVED SPECIMENS.—See Figures 9, 11, and 12 for a comparison of the color pattern between A. menesemus and A. taeniopterus. The prominent color pattern of this species is very similar to that of A. taeniopterus. The head and trunk pigmentation, the dark portions of the First dorsal and pelvic Fins, and the dark horizontal stripe on the second dorsal and anal fins are similar. The only difference is the complete development of the dark caudal bar in larger specimens of A. menesemus, whereas this bar is clearly interrupted by a central pale area in most specimens of A. taeniopterus. In a few specimens of A. taeniopterus, the pale interrupted portion of the dark bar is nearly filled in with black or blackish streaks, or the pale area is greatly reduced, the black arcs from each lobe nearly joining in the central portion of the fin. Further collecting and studies may justify recognizing one very wide ranging species with two subspecific populations.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—Widely distributed in the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island (Figure 10).

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—75 specimens, the largest one 134 mm SL.

Holotype: USNM 50700 (97.2), Honolulu, Hawaii, collected in 1889 by O.P. Jenkins.

Paratypes: CAS-SU 7831, 5 (93–119), Honolulu, 1900, D.S. Jordan and J.O. Snyder (tin tag numbers 019, 397, 404, 434, 792). CAS-SU 23299, 6 (97–107), Honolulu, 1889, O. P. Jenkins (tin tag numbers, all six 3299).

Other Material: HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: FMNH 73703, 2 (99, 108), Hawaii. FMNH 4077 (121). FMNH 4078 (110). FMNH 55663 (116). Honolulu. FMNH 63563, 12 (34–109), Hawaii, Oahu, Kahuku. CAS-SU 7632, 3 (107–130), Hilo (tin tags 03470, 05158, 05159). GVF 54 (124), Oahu I. CAS 30115 (113), W. Hawaii. CAS 30078 (109), (captured at night on bottom, ∼30 m, with hook and line, by T. Iwamoto, sta 73–16). CAS 30071, 3 (117–134); CAS 30120, 8 (103–133); both W. Hawaii, and both taken at night, on bottom, “ca. 14–15 fathoms” by T. Iwamoto, 1973). CAS 28517 (80), Hawaii, Pokai Bay. CAS 19850, 2 (111, 118) (tin tags 03096, 05154; Indiana Univ. nos. 10340, 10341). CAS (Acc. 278), 4 (81–110), Honolulu. GVF 26 (48), Laysan I. ANSP 105323 (117), French Frigate Shoals. ZMA 1–3, 3 (87–105), Honolulu. BPBM 6352, 6 (56–122).

JOHNSTON ISLAND: RUSI, 11 (48–112), Aug 1963.

Apogon taeniopterus Bennett

Apogon taeniopterus Bennett, 1835:206 [type-locality: Mauritius].

Apogon menesemops Lachner, 1953:455, fig. 78 [type-locality: Bikini Atoll].

DIAGNOSIS.—Dark vertical bar near base of caudal fin incompletely developed or interrupted at the central portion of the fin.

DESCRIPTION.—Certain morphometric and meristic characters are treated in Tables 1–3. For general shape and pigment pattern see Figure 11. Proportions (as percent standard length): body depth 31.5–38.9; head length 37.2–41.2; eye length 10.8–15.0; snout length 9.1–11.5; bony interorbital width 7.9–8.7; upper jaw length 17.9–21.5; caudal peduncle depth 14.7–17.2; caudal peduncle length 22.6–28.5; dorsal spine lengths—first 2.6–4.1, second 9.6–11.6, third 17.4–22.0, fourth 14.0–19.1, spine in second dorsal 13.2–15.5; anal spine lengths—first 1.7–3.3, second 11.5–14.7; pectoral fin length 21.8–24.8; pelvic fin length 21.3–26.8.

Second dorsal fin I, 9; 2 anal spines; pectoral fin 13–13; pelvic fin I, 5; well-developed gillrakers 15–17 (2 to 4 upper arch + 12 to 14 lower arch; including 1 to 3 rudiments + 2 to 4 rakers upper arch; 12 to 14 rakers + 2 to 5 rudiments lower arch); pored lateral-line scales 25; transverse scales rows above the lateral line 2; median predorsal scales 4–6; circumpeduncular scales 15–18 (5 to 7 + 2 + 7 to 9).

COLOR OF PRESERVED SPECIMENS.—The important color pattern consists of dark stripes or markings on all fins except the pectoral fin, but mainly observed on the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. Trunk light brown above midline, somewhat more silvery to tan on belly; head mostly dusky tan; a broad dark diffuse stripe from tip of snout to eye, usually faint or obscure; anterior portion of first dorsal fin dark, the membrane between the first and second spines black, upper two-thirds of membrane between second and third spines black and upper one-half of membrane between third and fourth spines black, remainder of fin mostly pale with a little dusky at tips of membranes; second dorsal and anal fins with a prominent dark stripe near basal portion of fin and parallel to base, its width slightly greater than one-half diameter of pupil; remainder of these fins pale with some dusky on anterior membranes and the outer margin; lobes of the caudal fin from tips of the outer three rays to scaly basal portion of fin black, with heavy black pigmentation on third to fifth rays about midway between fork of caudal fin and last scales of fin; this black pattern does not form a complete vertical bar on caudal fin; caudal peduncle at base of caudal fin with a diffuse, brown band, bordered posteriorly by a light tan or pale bar just beyond last scale row; pectoral fins pale; pelvic fins pale to light dusky, the membrane between the two outer rays and the outer margin blackish.

A few specimens have various caudal color patterns with the black interrupted bar nearly complete, approaching the bar present in A. menesemus. These specimens are documented in the following “Remarks” section.

COLOR IN LIFE.—From a Kodachrome transparency: trunk dark brown above midbody; belly silvery to dusky tan; free edges of many scales above lateral line light colored; head dorsally, snout and chin dark brown; posterior to eye and on opercular, silvery to brown; iris with some yellow, pupil black; snout bar blackish; pectoral fins light pink; black bar of anal fin bordered above and below with milky white; black markings of second dorsal fin bordered behind by white; portion of fin between bar and base of spinous dorsal fin whitish; caudal peduncle encircled with a black band; outer developed rays of caudal fin whitish; tips of rays and membranes of caudal fin blackish, remainder of caudal fin colored as described above.

Axelrod and Emmens (1969:224) illustrate this species in color from a color transparency.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—This species is known to us from the southern Indian Ocean eastward to the Marquesas Islands (Figure 10). Over this wide range it is associated with small, high and low islands; it has not been reported from the African, Asian, and Australian shelves nor the larger islands such as Madasgascar, Sri Lanka, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Luzon, New Guinea, and others.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—43 specimens, the largest 150 mm SL.

Holotype: BMNH 1855.12.26.478, 138.9 mm SL, Mauritius.

Paratypes: USNM 142283, 2 (101, 113), same data as USNM 142232. USNM 142284, 2 (108, 115), same locality as USNM 142232, 16 Mar 1946, L.P. Schultz sta 46-8.

Type Specimens of Apogon menesemops: Holotype: USNM 142232, 100.3 mm SL, Marshall Islands, Bikini Atoll, 1 Aug 1947, L.P. Schultz sta 46–83.

Other Material: COCOS-KEELING ISLANDS: ANSP 128361 (27), N. Keeling I. (taken at a depth of 21–24 m). CHRISTMAS ISLAND: BMNH 1911.1.31.5 (90). MAURITIUS: MCZ 5716, 4 (146–150) (bone tags 254–256). ST. BRANDON'S SHOALS: USNM 260487, 4 (133–142); USNM 260488 (122); both from Isle Raphael, SOCIETY ISLANDS: BPBM 8364 (119), Popote Bay, Tahiti. BPBM 8114, 4 (63–105); CAS 1350 (104); both Papara, Tahiti. FMNH 77289 (110); CAS 17595 (114); CAS 17594 (99); GVF 1184, 2 (50, 54); all Tahiti. GVF 1314(116); GVF 1110(64); both Moorea. GVF 1364 (114), Bora-Bora. MCZ 9720 (110). NEW CALEDONIA: RUSI 3324 (104), Noumea. MICRONESIA: BMNH 1865.3.2.62 (105). TUAMOTU ARCHIPELAGO: BPBM 10272 (90), Makemo. GVF 81 (93), Raroia Atoll. GVF 63 (76), Raroia Atoll, LINE ISLANDS: GVF 47 (72), Palmyra I. COOK ISLANDS: GVF 1675 (61), Mangaia. SAMOAN ISLANDS: CAS 30639, 2 (35, 38), Swain's I. CAROLINE ISLANDS: BPBM 9324 (122), Ulithi Atoll, S side Falalop I. GVF 257 (132), Ifaluk. USNM 224273 (63), Ponape I. PHOENIX ISLANDS: USNM 225684 (47), McKean I. MARQUESAS ISLANDS: BPBM 11692, 2 (72, 80), Fatu Hiva. MARIANA ISLANDS: UG 4190 (121), Guam.

Zoramia Jordan, 1917:46 [type-species: Apogon graeffi Günther, 1873 (= Apogon leptacanthus Bleeker, 1856a) by original designation and monotypy, as a genus].

DIAGNOSIS.—Six spines in the first dorsal fin; nine soft anal rays; infraorbital shelf absent on third bone; supraoccipital crest high; frontals with crests; gillrakers 24–32; two or three rows of villiform teeth toward the symphysis of the premaxilla, one or two rows on the dentary becoming one row posteriorly; one row of villiform teeth on palatine; black stomach and intestine; second and third dorsal spines variably elongate or filamentous.