Sydney Cardinalfish, Ostorhinchus limenus (Randall & Hoese, 1988)

Scientific name: Ostorhinchus limenus
Sydney Cardinalfish, Ostorhinchus limenus Click to enlarge image
Sydney Cardinalfish, Ostorhinchus limenus.A Sydney Cardinalfish at a depth of 21 m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, April 1998. Image: Ian Shaw
© Ian Shaw

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Ostorhinchus
    Species
    limenus
    Family
    Apogonidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 14 cm in length.

Introduction

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.

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.

Habitat

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

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.

Breeding behaviours

The species is a mouth brooder.

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.