Home · Apogonidae · Nine-banded cardinalfish
Nine-banded cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus novemfasciatus) — Apogonidae

Nine-banded cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus novemfasciatus
Family: Apogonidae
LC · Least Concern

The Nine-banded cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus novemfasciatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1–4 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-Pacific; reef flats and shallow lagoons to about 4 m.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Nine-banded cardinalfish?

Description

The sevenstriped cardinalfish is a small reef fish of the cardinalfish family (Apogonidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a red-brown body with several dark longitudinal stripes and large eyes. It is common on reef flats and in shallow lagoons to about 4 metres, where by day it shelters among coral and stones. As a nocturnal hunter it feeds on 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 Nine-banded cardinalfish?

The Nine-banded cardinalfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Red-brown with dark longitudinal stripes; nocturnal, the male broods the eggs in its mouth.

Where does the Nine-banded cardinalfish live?

The Nine-banded cardinalfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-Pacific; reef flats and shallow lagoons to about 4 m.

How big does the Nine-banded cardinalfish get?

The Nine-banded cardinalfish grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Nine-banded cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Nine-banded cardinalfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Nine-banded cardinalfish edible?

The Nine-banded cardinalfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Nine-banded cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus novemfasciatus) — Apogonidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Nine-banded cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus novemfasciatus) — Apogonidae — 3
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Nine-banded cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus novemfasciatus) — Apogonidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Claire Goiran, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Nine-banded cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus novemfasciatus) — Apogonidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Claire Goiran, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Want the complete picture on the Nine-banded cardinalfish?

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

All data

Identification

English name
Nine-banded cardinalfish verified
Scientific name
Ostorhinchus novemfasciatus
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Nine-banded soldierfish; Nine-banded soldier-fish; Nineline cardinalfish; Nine-line cardinalfish; Seven-striped cardinalfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange
Pattern
Horizontal stripes
Tail shape
Forked
Mouth position
Terminal
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)
1 verified
Max depth (m)
4 verified
Natural range
Indo-Pacific; reef flats and shallow lagoons to about 4 m.
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
Red-brown with dark 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 Nine-banded cardinalfish?

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

Is this the Nine-banded cardinalfish?