Astrapogon puncticulatus

(Poey, 1867)

Blackfin Cardinalfish

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Southern Florida to Brazil.

Size: 3 inches (8 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow lagoons, tidepools and seagrass areas, and occurs over sand and rubble substrates where it hides in gastropod shells during daytime. Usually found at depths between 3 – 25 feet (1 – 8 m) where it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans/zooplankton during evening hours.

General Husbandry: Has a mottled brownish body with dark fins. As of 2016, not yet purposely collected for the trade.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Apogonidae

Subfamily: Apogoninae

Genus: Astrapogon

FYI: Shown here for identification only.