Animal Species:Norfolk Cardinalfish, Apogon norfolcensis Ogilby, 1888

The Norfolk Cardinalfish is only known from Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and New Caledonia. It has a thin blue line running from the snout, below the eye and curving abruptly downwards.

Norfolk Cardinalfish at Sugarloaf Island

Norfolk Cardinalfish at Sugarloaf Island
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Identification

The Norfolk Cardinalfish is dusky brown with a small black spot on the caudal peduncle. There is a thin blue line running from the snout, below the eye and curving abruptly downwards.

Size range

The species grows to 10 cm in length.

Distribution

The Norfolk Cardinalfish is only known from Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and New Caledonia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Apogon norfolcensis

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Norfolk Cardinalfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
norfolcensis
Genus:
Apogon
Family:
Apogonidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Francis, M.P. 1993. Checklist of the coastal fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Island, south-west Pacific Ocean. Pacific. Science. 47(2): 136-170.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. & T. Kozawa. 1999. Fishes of the Indo-West Pacific. Apogonidae. CD Version 1.0 Zoonetics.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Norfolk Cardinalfish, Apogon norfolcensis, Apogonidae, blue line, stripes or bands, brown, dots/spots, < 10 cm, marine,