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Ray-finned Fishes of Zihuatanejo

CLASS ACTINOPTERYGII

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Ray-finned Fishes (Class Actinopterygii)

-Spiny-rayed Fishes (Superorder Acanthomorpha)

-Gobies, Cardinalfishes and Allies (Order Gobiiformes)

-Cardinalfishes and Nurseryfishes (Suborder Apogonoidei)

-Cardinalfishes (Family Apogonidae)

-Gobbleguts (Subfamily Apogoninae)

-Genus Apogon

-Barspot Cardinalfish (Apogon retrosella)


The Barspot cardinalfish (Apogon retrosella) is a small, nocturnal reef fish commonly found in the tropical eastern Pacific, including rocky reefs and coral areas. It has a compact, laterally compressed body with large eyes adapted for low-light conditions. The fish is pale red overall, marked by a distinct dark spot near the base of the tail and faint vertical bars along the body, which give rise to its common name. During the day it shelters in crevices or among reef structure, emerging at night to feed on small crustaceans and plankton. Like other cardinalfishes, it exhibits mouth-brooding behaviour, with males carrying the fertilized eggs in their mouths until they hatch.

Diet

  • A small planktivorous cardinalfish that feeds primarily on zooplankton and small pelagic crustaceans.

Range

  • Apogon retrosella is endemic to the tropical eastern Pacific, ranging from southern Baja California and the Gulf of California southward along the Pacific coast to western Panama.

  • It occurs in the Zihuatanejo area, including Zihuatanejo Bay.

Habitat

  • It inhabits rocky reefs and other reef-associated environments, generally from very shallow water to about 60 m. It is primarily found close to the bottom around rocks and reef structure.

Description

  • The Barspot Cardinalfish has an oblong, laterally compressed body, a relatively large head and large eyes, reaching about 10 cm in length. It is normally red to reddish pink.

  • Distinctive markings include a black bar beneath the second dorsal fin, a black spot at the base of the caudal fin, and a black stripe running from the snout through the eye, bordered by pale lines.

  • Breeding males can become more uniformly red and temporarily lose the prominent black caudal-base spot and the bar beneath the second dorsal fin.

Barspot Cardinalfish

Apogon retrosella

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