Southern Cardinalfish, Vincentia conspersa (Klunzinger, 1872)

Scientific name: Vincentia conspersa
Alternative name/s:
Orange Cardinalfish, Southern Gobbleguts
Southern Cardinalfish Click to enlarge image
A Southern Cardinalfish at a depth of 3m, Edithburgh Jetty, South Australia, 27 January 2013. Image: Phil Mercurio
© Phil Mercurio

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Vincentia
    Species
    conspersa
    Family
    Apogonidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to 12 cm in length.

Introduction

The Southern Cardinalfish is a small reddish-brown fish that is endemic to southern Australian coastal waters.

Identification

The Southern Cardinalfish has an oval-shaped body with a long caudal peduncle. It has two tall dorsal fins and large pelvic fins. The mouth is large and oblique. The body is greyish-brown to red-brown often with small dark brown or black spots on the head and body. Juveniles are sometimes flecked with white.

Southern Cardinalfish, Vincentia conspersa
A juvenile Southern Cardinalfish at a depth of 4m, Port Victoria, South Australia, 20 April, 2012. Image: David Teubner
© David Teubner

Habitat

The species occurs in inshore rocky reef habitats in temperate marine waters down to depths of over 65 m.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia, occurring from the central coast of Victoria and Tasmania to the Great Australian Bight.

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

References

  1. Gomon, M.F., Bray, D. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 2008. The Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Reed New Holland. Pp. 928.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.