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Amboina cardinalfish (Fibramia amboinensis) — Apogonidae

Amboina cardinalfish

Fibramia amboinensis
Family: Apogonidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Amboina cardinalfish (Fibramia amboinensis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
2–5 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific; brackish water at river mouths and mangroves.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The Amboina cardinalfish is a cardinalfish (Apogonidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species is small and has a translucent, silvery body with large eyes, adapted to a nocturnal life. It occurs in brackish water at river mouths and among mangroves, and enters fresh water at low tide. At night it hunts small zooplankton and small invertebrates. Notably, the male incubates the eggs in its mouth. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Amboina cardinalfish?

The Amboina cardinalfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Brackish-water cardinalfish of mangroves; the male broods the eggs in its mouth.

Where does the Amboina cardinalfish live?

The Amboina cardinalfish lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific; brackish water at river mouths and mangroves.

How big does the Amboina cardinalfish get?

The Amboina cardinalfish grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Amboina cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Amboina cardinalfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Amboina cardinalfish edible?

The Amboina cardinalfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Amboina cardinalfish (Fibramia amboinensis) — Apogonidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Amboina cardinalfish (Fibramia amboinensis) — Apogonidae — 3
J Sim (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Amboina cardinalfish (Fibramia amboinensis) — Apogonidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) an2mc, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Amboina cardinalfish (Fibramia amboinensis) — Apogonidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) J Sim, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Amboina cardinalfish verified
Scientific name
Fibramia amboinensis
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Amboina cardinalfish; Ambon cardinalfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey
Pattern
Plain
Tail shape
Forked
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thin
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2 verified
Max depth (m)
5 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific; brackish water at river mouths and mangroves.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton and small invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups
Territorial
No
Activity
Nocturnal
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Brackish-water cardinalfish of mangroves; the male broods the eggs in its mouth. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Fibramia

More from the family Apogonidae

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