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Acropomatiformes (Oceanic basses) >
Epigonidae (Deepwater cardinalfishes)
Etymology: Epigonus: Greek, epi = over, in front + Greek, gonio = angle (Ref. 45335); marisrubri: The species is named marisrubri, the Latin translation of "Red Sea". The epithet is composed of the noun mare (sea, genitive case = maris) and the adjective rubrum (red, genitive case = rubri).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 52 - 200 m (Ref. 93890). Tropical; 30°N - 29°N, 34°E - 35°E
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea: Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan. Only known from the type locality, a coral reef area in front of the Marine Science Station in Aqaba, at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, where it was found at a depth of only 52 m. First record of the family Epigonidae from the Red Sea, representing the northermost occurrence in the Indian Ocean (Ref. 83754).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 14.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 93890)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 25. Epigonus marisrubri is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays VII + I,10; anal-fin rays II,9; pectoral-fin rays 18; pored lateral line scales 48 or 49; gill-rakers 10+19-20; pyloric caeca 10; vertebrae 10 + 15; 2 pterygiophores between neural spines 9 and 10; pectoral fins long, reaching level of second dorsal-fin origin; caudal fin forked; tongue with a band of 2-4 rows of densely-set teeth on glossohyal; opercle with short, poorly ossified spine and 1-2 small spinelets; otolith oval, elongate, sulcus and cristae weakly developed (Ref. 83754).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Inhabits the coastal reef area and continental shelf. Reported from a coral reef area at a depth of 52 m (northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea) (Ref. 93890).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Krupp, F., U. Zajonz and M.A. Khalaf, 2009. A new species of the deepwater cardinalfish genus Epigonus (Perciformes: Epigonidae) from the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. aqua, Int. J. Ichthyol. 15(4):223-227. (Ref. 83754)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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