Cardinalfishes are a family, Apogonidae, of ray-finned fishes found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans they are chiefly marine, but some species are found in brackish water and a few (notably Glossamia) are found in fresh water. A handful of species are kept in the aquarium and are popular as small, peaceful, and colourful fish. The family includes about 370 species. They are generally small fish, with most species being less than 10 cm (3.9 in), and are often brightly coloured. They are distinguished by their large mouths, and the division of the dorsal fin into two separate fins. Most species live in tropical or subtropical waters, where they inhabit coral reefs and lagoons. They are nocturnal, spending the day in dark crevices within the reef. At least some species brood their eggs inside the mouths of the males. Learn more about Cardinalfish
View all family groups for: Fish
Cardinalfish Species Videos
View All Cardinalfish Videos
Common Name | Scientific Name | Conservation Status |
Amboina Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Apogon amboinensis | Not Available |
Apogon Melas (1 videos) | Apogon melas | Not Available |
Apogon Pharaonis (3 videos) | Apogon pharaonis | Not Available |
Apogon Properuptus (1 videos) | Apogon properuptus | Not Available |
Apogon Trimaculatus (4 videos) | Apogon trimaculatus | Not Available |
Bandtail Cardinalfish (6 videos) | Apogon fleurieu | Not Available |
Banggai Cardinalfish (42 videos) | Pterapogon kauderni | Not Available |
Barred Cardinalfish (9 videos) | Apogon binotatus | Not Available |
Blackbelted Cardinalfish (7 videos) | Archamia zosterophora | Not Available |
Blackfoot Cardinal (6 videos) | Apogon nigripes | Not Available |
Blackstripe Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus | Not Available |
Blacktip Cardinalfish (4 videos) | Apogon atradorsatus | Not Available |
Bullseye Cardinalfish (12 videos) | Apogonichthyoides nigripinnis | Not Available |
Cardinalfish (356 videos) | Apogonichthyoides miniatus | Not Available |
Coral Cardinalfish (4 videos) | Siphamia corallicola | Not Available |
Doederlein's Cardinalfish (2 videos) | Apogon doederleini | Not Available |
Dog-toothed Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Cheilodipterus isostigmus | Not Available |
Eight-lined Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Cheilodipterus alleni | Not Available |
Five-lined Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus | Not Available |
Frostfin Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Ostorhinchus hoevenii | Not Available |
Ghost Cardinalfish (4 videos) | Nectamia fusca | Not Available |
Golden Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Apogonichthyoides chrysurus | Not Available |
Guadalupe Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Apogon guadalupensis | Not Available |
Iridescent Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Pristiapogon kallopterus | Not Available |
Komodo Cardinalfish (3 videos) | Ostorhinchus komodoensis | Not Available |
Large Toothed Cardinalfish (7 videos) | Cheilodipterus macrodon | Not Available |
Moluccan Cardinalfish (9 videos) | Ostorhinchus moluccensis | Not Available |
Moluccen Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Ostorhinchus monospilus | Not Available |
Narrowstripe Cardinalfish (2 videos) | Pristiapogon exostigma | Not Available |
Orangelined Cardinalfish (3 videos) | Archamia fucata | Not Available |
Orbiculate Cardinalfish (10 videos) | Sphaeramia orbicularis | Not Available |
Pajama Cardinalfish (11 videos) | Sphaeramia nematoptera | Not Available |
Pearl Cardinalfish (3 videos) | Apogon guamensis | Not Available |
Pink Cardinalfish (6 videos) | Apogon pacificus | Not Available |
Ring-tailed Cardinalfish (30 videos) | Ostorhinchus aureus | Not Available |
Ruby Cardinalfish (2 videos) | Apogon coccineus | Not Available |
Samoan Cardinalfish (4 videos) | Nectamia savayensis | Not Available |
Seale's Cardinalfish (2 videos) | Ostorhinchus sealei | Not Available |
Silver Fish (0 videos) | Leptatherina presbyteroides | Not Available |
Southern Orange-lined Cardinal Fish (1 videos) | Ostorhinchus properuptus | Not Available |
Spotted-gill Cardinalfish (4 videos) | Ostorhinchus chrysopomus | Not Available |
Swallowtail Cardinalfish (33 videos) | Rhabdamia cypselurus | Not Available |
Tailspot Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Apogon dovii | Not Available |
Threadfin Cardinalfish (2 videos) | Zoramia leptacantha | Not Available |
Weedy Cardinalfish (892 videos) | Foa fo | Not Available |
Whitestar Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Apogon lachneri | Not Available |
Yellow Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Ostorhinchus luteus | Not Available |
Yellowbelly Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Cheilodipterus zonatus | Not Available |
Yellowstriped Cardinalfish (1 videos) | Ostorhinchus cyanosoma | Not Available |