Norfolk Cardinalfish, Ostorhinchus norfolcensis (Ogilby, 1888)

Scientific name: Ostorhinchus norfolcensis
Norfolk Cardinalfish, <i>Apogon norfolcensis</i> Click to enlarge image
A Norfolk Cardinalfish at a depth of 16m, Yellow Rock, Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, 27 December 2008. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Ostorhinchus
    Species
    norfolcensis
    Family
    Apogonidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 10 cm in length.

Introduction

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.

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.

Norfolk Cardinalfish, Apogon norfolcensis
A Norfolk Cardinalfish at a depth of 17m, Sugarloaf Island, Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, 24 December 2008. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

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.

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.