Fowleria marmorata (Alleyne & MacLeay, 1877)
Marbled cardinalfish
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  7.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 37 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Line, Marquesan, and Society islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef; throughout Micronesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Reddish brown with about 10 dark bars and reddish fins (Ref. 37816, 48635). A reflective black to bluish grey spot, sometimes rimmed with white, on operculum. Lateral line incomplete (Ref. 48635); characterized further by dark bands radiating from rear eye; incomplete lateral line with 10-13 tubed scales; greatest depth of body 2.7-3.1 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Nocturnal species. Occurs inshore (Ref. 7300) over rocky bottoms (Ref. 1602). Also found in outer reefs in mixed rich coral and algae rubble slopes (Ref. 48635). Solitary and cryptic (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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