Reef Aquarium Species Codexery

Banggai cardinalfish

A paternal mouthbrooder with a restricted range and captive-breeding history.

Last updated

A small tropical fish belonging to the family Apogonidae, the Banggai cardinalfish is scientifically named Pterapogon kauderni.[1] Within its genus, this species is the sole member, and it is frequently sought after for home aquariums.[1] Maximum total length for this fish is 8 centimetres.[2]

Scientific classification

  1. KingdomAnimalia
  2. PhylumChordata
  3. ClassActinopterygii
  4. DivisionTeleostei
  5. OrderGobiiformes
  6. FamilyApogonidae
  7. GenusPterapogon
  8. SpeciesPterapogon kauderni

Named by Koumans, 1933

Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Banggai cardinalfish (CC BY-SA 4.0) · differs from this box at order: WoRMS AphiaID 282494 (CC BY 4.0)

Conservation status

Endangered (EN)

  1. LC
  2. NT
  3. VU
  4. EN▲ this species
  5. CR
  6. EW
  7. EX
Population trend
Not held in our sources — see the assessment
Assessment published
2025

Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category

How big is it?

Size comparison: Banggai cardinalfish and a personA 0.08 m long banggai cardinalfish drawn to scale next to a 1.8 m tall person. Schematic shapes, not a likeness.0.08 m1.8 m

Largest length in the source, 0.08 m, next to a 1.8 m person.

Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Banggai cardinalfish

Where the banggai cardinalfish has been recorded

Where the banggai cardinalfish has been recorded11 mapped locations from 324 GBIF occurrence records; marked places: Banggai Islands Regency, LuwukBanggai Islands RegencyLuwuk

Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (324 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 7 inland records left out (institution coordinates).

Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Biology and range

One additional population became established in the Lembeh Strait following introduction by aquarium fish traders in 2000.[2] The Banggai cardinalfish's entire distribution is confined to Indonesia's Banggai Islands, covering a very small area of 5,500 km² with a total population estimated at 2.4 million individuals.[3] Within the Banggai Archipelago, separate groups of this fish are found in the shallow waters surrounding 17 larger and 10 smaller islands.[2] Among all cardinalfishes, only this species is active during the day.[2]

In shallow water, this fish creates stable aggregations of roughly 9 individuals, with the highest densities observed at depths between 1.5 and 2.5 m.[2] The male of this species broods the eggs in its mouth.[2] A planktonic larval phase is absent from the life cycle of this fish.[3] In captivity under ideal conditions, this species lives about 4 years, while in the wild its lifespan is probably only 1 to 2 years.[2]

What the specialist sources record

The GBIF Backbone Taxonomy lists the species as Pterapogon kauderni Koumans, 1933, with an accepted rank and status.[4] Because of its small range, fragmented distribution, and ongoing population decline from collection for the international aquarium trade, the IUCN has classified this species as endangered.[5] A proposal in 2007 to include the species under CITES Appendix II was withdrawn after Indonesia withheld its support.[5]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Banggai cardinalfish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mabuchi, K., "Revision of the systematics of the cardinalfishes (Percomorpha: Apogonidae) based on molecular analyses and comparative reevaluation of morphological characters", Zootaxa, 2014, p. 151–203 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Banggai cardinalfish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Consideration of Proposals for Amendment of Appendices I and II. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Fourteenth mee (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Banggai cardinalfish" (CC BY-SA 4.0) en.wikipedia.org
  4. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence index, Pterapogon kauderni (taxon key 2397627). CC BY 4.0 (backbone); counts are facts. gbif.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Banggai cardinalfish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Allen, G.R., "Pterapogon kauderni", 2025; Vagelli, "The unfortunate journey of Pterapogon kauderni: A remarkable apogonid endangered by the international ornamental fish trade, and its case in CITES", SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin, 2008, p. 17–28 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Banggai cardinalfish (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

Related entries

Same family (Apogonidae)

Belted cardinalfish Apogon townsendi, Bigtooth cardinalfish Paroncheilus affinis, Broadbanded cardinalfish Ostorhinchus fasciatus, Capricorn cardinalfish Ostorhinchus capricornis, Cardinal fish Apogon imberbis

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Test yourself

Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.

1. To which biological family does the Banggai cardinalfish belong?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Apogonidae.

From the source: “The Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) is a small tropical cardinalfish in the family Apogonidae.”

2. To which genus does the Banggai cardinalfish belong?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Pterapogon.

From the source: “The Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) is a small tropical cardinalfish in the family Apogonidae.”

3. What is the IUCN Red List category of the Banggai cardinalfish?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Endangered.

From the source: “It is among the relatively few marine fish to have been bred regularly in captivity, but significant numbers are still captured in the wild and it is now an endangered species.”

Answers checked against the source article

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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