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Sawcheek cardinalfish (Apogon quadrisquamatus) — Apogonidae

Sawcheek cardinalfish

Apogon quadrisquamatus
Family: Apogonidae
LC · Least Concern

The Sawcheek cardinalfish (Apogon quadrisquamatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1–75 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Atlantic and Caribbean; coral and sandy bottoms.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The sawcheek cardinalfish is a cardinalfish (Apogonidae) from the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. The species is small and has a reddish, translucent body with large eyes, adapted to a nocturnal life. It lives on coral, sand or gravel bottoms and sometimes shelters near sea anemones or inside tubular sponges, presumably as protection from predators. By day it shelters; at night it hunts zooplankton and small invertebrates. Like all cardinalfishes the male is a mouthbrooder. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sawcheek cardinalfish?

The Sawcheek cardinalfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a plain pattern. Shelters by sea anemones or in tube-shaped sponges; nocturnal mouthbrooder.

Where does the Sawcheek cardinalfish live?

The Sawcheek cardinalfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Atlantic and Caribbean; coral and sandy bottoms.

How big does the Sawcheek cardinalfish get?

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

Is the Sawcheek cardinalfish dangerous to humans?

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

Is the Sawcheek cardinalfish edible?

The Sawcheek cardinalfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Sawcheek cardinalfish (Apogon quadrisquamatus) — Apogonidae — 2
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
Sawcheek cardinalfish (Apogon quadrisquamatus) — Apogonidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) David Garza, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Sawcheek cardinalfish (Apogon quadrisquamatus) — Apogonidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Scott Jones, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Sawcheek cardinalfish verified
Scientific name
Apogon quadrisquamatus
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Sawcheek Cardinalfish; Sawcheek cardinalfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange
Pattern
Plain
Tail shape
Forked
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thick / fleshy
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)
75 verified
Natural range
Western Atlantic and Caribbean; coral and sandy bottoms.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
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
Shelters by sea anemones or in tube-shaped sponges; nocturnal mouthbrooder. 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 Apogon

More from the family Apogonidae

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