Home · Apogonidae · Blackbanded soldierfish
Blackbanded soldierfish (Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus) — Apogonidae

Blackbanded soldierfish

Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus
Family: Apogonidae
LC · Least Concern

The Blackbanded soldierfish (Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3–50 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific; reef flats and shallow lagoon reefs.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Blackbanded soldierfish?

Description

The blackstripe cardinalfish is a small reef fish of the cardinalfish family (Apogonidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a yellowish body with several sharply defined black longitudinal stripes. It inhabits reef flats and shallow lagoon reefs and is usually seen singly or in pairs under ledges and in crevices. It is a nocturnal species that hides by day and at night hunts small zooplankton and small invertebrates. Like other cardinalfishes the male broods the eggs in its mouth. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackbanded soldierfish?

The Blackbanded soldierfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Sharply defined black longitudinal stripes; nocturnal, the male broods the eggs in its mouth.

Where does the Blackbanded soldierfish live?

The Blackbanded soldierfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific; reef flats and shallow lagoon reefs.

How big does the Blackbanded soldierfish get?

The Blackbanded soldierfish grows to a maximum of about 10 cm. On average the species is around 7 cm.

Is the Blackbanded soldierfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackbanded soldierfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Blackbanded soldierfish edible?

The Blackbanded soldierfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Blackbanded soldierfish (Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus) — Apogonidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Anders Poulsen, Deep Blue (http://www.colours.dk/) (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Blackbanded soldierfish (Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus) — Apogonidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Blackbanded soldierfish (Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus) — Apogonidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) François Libert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Blackbanded soldierfish (Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus) — Apogonidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) David R, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Want the complete picture on the Blackbanded soldierfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blackbanded soldierfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Blackbanded soldierfish verified
Scientific name
Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Blackstripe cardinalfish; Black-striped cardinalfish; Blackstriped cardinalfish; Cardinalfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10 verified
Average length (cm)
7 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold
Pattern
Horizontal stripes
Tail shape
Forked
Mouth position
Superior (upward)
Lips
Thin
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3 verified
Max depth (m)
50 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific; reef flats and shallow lagoon reefs.
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
Sharply defined black longitudinal stripes; nocturnal, 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 Ostorhinchus

More from the family Apogonidae

Want the complete picture on the Blackbanded soldierfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blackbanded soldierfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Is this the Blackbanded soldierfish?