Description: Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) have a silver body with a contrasting pattern of black and light bars. The body is covered with small white spots that are easily seen on the dorsal, pelvic, anal and caudal fins. Between the three black vertical bars on the body, the Banggai cardinalfish is marked with white dots, which form a pattern unique to each individual. The front dorsal fin is tasseled and the second dorsal, anal and caudal fins are elongated. The fins all have black markings and, with the exception of the front dorsal fin, are also marked with white dots.
Size: This species grows up to a length of three inches (8 cm).
Behavior: Banggai cardinalfish is the only member of the family Apogonidae that is diurnal (active during the day). It lives and feeds on or near the bottom of the sea and form groups of about nine individuals.
Diet: They feed on small fish and crustaceans, with copepods constituting a bulk of their diet.
Reproduction: The Banggai cardinalfish is a paternal mouthbrooder. The male broods the eggs and later the fry in his mouth. During this time, about four to six weeks, he does not eat. Mating pairs of Banggai cardinalfish establish spawning territories several miles away from their main group and will vigorously defend these territories.
small area around the Banggai Islands of Indonesia where they inhabit shallow habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass beds and open areas of sand and rubble.
Status: Listed as Endangered on IUCN Red List.
