Pristiapogon exostigma (Jordan & Starks, 1906)
Narrowstripe cardinalfish
Pristiapogon exostigma
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  12 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 120 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Line and MangarĂ©va islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to southern Great Barrier Reef and Austral Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Distinguished by having the following characteristics: dorsal fin rays VII-I, 9; anal fin rays II, 8; pectoral fin rays 14; pelvic-fin rays I, 5; pored lateral line scales 23; total gill rakers 16-17, developed gill rakers 10-12; circumpeduncular scales 12; predorsal scales 4; body depth 3.0-3.4 in SL (Ref. 93839). Basicaudal spot is centered slightly above the level of the lateral stripe (Ref. 37816). Further characterized by pinkish to pale grey body color; narrow, tapering midlateral stripe; caudal fin base with dark spot that barely touches lateral line on its lower edge (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found under ledges or among isolated coral heads in silty inner reef areas (Ref. 1602). Solitary and rather rare (Ref. 559). Nocturnal species (Ref. 7300). Often found at base of coral outcrops or under ledges (Ref 90102). Feeds on fishes and invertebrates (Ref. 89972). Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 February 2021 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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