Taeniamia mozambiquensis (Smith, 1961)
Mozambique cardinalfish
Taeniamia mozambiquensis
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  8.9 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 20 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: eastern coast of Africa and its associated islands, from Kenya to KwaZulu-Natal (Ref. 54391). Reported as likely at Seychelles (Ref. 1623) but Randall and van Egmond 1994 (Ref. 10685) believe otherwise.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 13-15. Diagnosis: Rays: dorsal VI + I,9; anal II,13-15; pectoral rays 14 (rarely 15). Gill rakers 5-6 + 16-18. Lateral-line scales 25+3-4. Median predorsal scales 5-6. Body depth 2.5-2.7 in SL; body width 2.2-2.6 in body depth; eye diameter 2.8-3.2 in head length; first dorsal spine 2.5-3.25 in second spine; second dorsal spine 2.05-2.8, and third dorsal spine 2.1-2.9 in head length; spine of second dorsal fin 2.2-2.5, and second anal spine 2.4-3.1 in head length; pelvic-fin length 4.6-5.1 and caudal-peduncle length 4.1-5.1 in SL; distance from insertion of pelvic spine to anal-fin origin 3.9-5.8 in SL. Posterior preopercular edge serrate on lower half; ventral edge serrate on posterior half. Scaly sheath along anal-fin base well developed (Ref. 54391).
Biology:  Occurs in loose aggregations between branching corals or coralline rocks (Ref. 9710), and seaweed in protected waters to a depth of 15 meters (Ref. 54391). Relatively common (Ref. 9710).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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