Home · Apogonidae · Eyeshadow cardinalfish
Eyeshadow cardinalfish (Pristiapogon exostigma) — Apogonidae

Eyeshadow cardinalfish

Pristiapogon exostigma
Family: Apogonidae

The Eyeshadow cardinalfish (Pristiapogon exostigma) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3–120 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cocos Is. (Keel), Comoros, Fiji and others

Want the complete picture on the Eyeshadow cardinalfish?

Description

The eyeshadow cardinalfish is a small reef fish (Apogonidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a slender, reddish to translucent body with a dark stripe through the eye and a small dark spot below the second dorsal fin. As a nocturnal reef-dweller it shelters by day in groups in crevices and near coral and hunts small zooplankton and crustaceans at night. The male broods the eggs in its mouth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Eyeshadow cardinalfish?

The Eyeshadow cardinalfish has a torpedo-shaped body.

Where does the Eyeshadow cardinalfish live?

The Eyeshadow cardinalfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cocos Is. (Keel), Comoros, Fiji and others

How big does the Eyeshadow cardinalfish get?

The Eyeshadow cardinalfish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Eyeshadow cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Eyeshadow cardinalfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Eyeshadow cardinalfish (Pristiapogon exostigma) — Apogonidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Eyeshadow cardinalfish (Pristiapogon exostigma) — Apogonidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Alexander Vasenin (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Eyeshadow cardinalfish (Pristiapogon exostigma) — Apogonidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Pauline Fey, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Eyeshadow cardinalfish (Pristiapogon exostigma) — Apogonidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Want the complete picture on the Eyeshadow cardinalfish?

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

All data

Identification

English name
Eyeshadow cardinalfish sourced
Scientific name
Pristiapogon exostigma
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Eyeshadow cardinalfish; Narrowstripe cardinalfish; One-line cardinal; Oneline cardinalfish; One-lined cardinalfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Tail shape
Forked
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3 verified
Max depth (m)
120 verified
Natural range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cocos Is. (Keel), Comoros, Fiji and others sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates
Territorial
No
Activity
Nocturnal
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Pristiapogon

More from the family Apogonidae

Want the complete picture on the Eyeshadow cardinalfish?

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

Is this the Eyeshadow cardinalfish?