Animal Species:Sydney Cardinalfish, Apogon limenus (Randall & Hoese, 1988)

The Sydney Cardinalfish is endemic to (only known from) Australia. The species name limenus comes from the Greek word limen, meaning harbour or refuge and refers to the habitat of the species.

Sydney Cardinalfish, Apogon limenus

Sydney Cardinalfish, Apogon limenus
Ian Shaw © Ian Shaw

Identification

The Sydney Cardinalfish has pink fins and a broad mid-lateral stripe. There is a wide gap between the second and third stripes and a short stripe running posteriorly from the top of the eye. A large spot is present on the caudal peduncle.

Size range

The species grows to 14 cm in length.

Distribution

It is endemic to Australia, occurring from southern Queensland to southern New South Wales, but probably also in eastern Victoria.

The Sydney Cardinalfish is very common in the Sydney region. Many of the specimens used in the original description of the species by Randall and Hoese, were collected from Sydney Harbour, hence the common name. The species name limenus comes from the Greek word limen, meaning harbour or refuge, and refers to the habitat of the species.

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 limenus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Sydney Cardinalfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Th species lives in rocky estuaries and offshore reefs at depths between 1 m and 30 m.

Classification

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

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 469.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Randall, J.E. & D.F. Hoese. 1988. Apogon limenus, a new species of cardinalfish (Perciformes: Apogonidae) from New South Wales. Records of the Australian Museum 40: 359-364.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Sydney Cardinalfish, Apogon limenus, Apogonidae, endemic to Australia, pink fins, stripes or bands, dots/spots, 10 cm - 30 cm, rocky estuaries, offshore reef,