Taeniamia macroptera (Cuvier, 1828)
Dusky-tailed cardinalfish
Taeniamia macroptera
photo by Ryanskiy, A.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  9.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 20 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 13-15. Diagnosis: Rays: dorsal VI + I,9; anal II,13-15; pectoral rays 14 (rarely 13 or 15). Gill rakers 5-6 + 15-17. Lateral-line scales 25+3-5. Median predorsal scales 5-7. Body depth 2.4-2.7 in SL; body width 2.3-2.6 in body depth; eye diameter 2.55-3.0 in head length; first dorsal spine 2.0-2.9 in second spine; second dorsal spine 2.3-2.9, and third dorsal spine 2.4-2.8 in head length; spine of second dorsal fin 2.3-2.8, and second anal spine 2.6-3.2 in head length; pelvic-fin length 4.5-5.15 and caudal-peduncle length 4.3-5.4 in SL; distance from insertion of pelvic spine to anal-fin origin 3.8-4.8 in SL. Basilingual teeth absent. Posterior preopercular edge completely serrate, or nearly so; ventral edge serrate on posterior half. Scaly sheath along anal-fin base poorly developed or absent (Ref. 54391).
Biology:  Inhabits lagoon and fringing coral and rocky reefs with sand or rubble bottom in relatively clear water. Usually in aggregations, among branching corals, sometimes with its congeners (Ref. 36661, 48635, 54391).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 December 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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