Apogon gouldi

FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
ApogonidaeApogon gouldiSmith-Vaniz1977Deepwater Cardinalfish

Apogon gouldi

Unique Characters: Dark bar/saddle below second dorsal-fin base or just behind it; no dark spot or stripe on opercle. Scales on body ctenoid. Median predorsal scales present;. Posterior margin of preopercle serrate. Pectoral-fin soft rays 11 or 12 (rarely 13). Membraneous ventral preopercular flap not extending beyond posterior preopercle edge. Inner pelvic-fin ray mostly free from body. Segmented anal-fin rays 8. No large caniniform teeth; teeth in both jaws villiform, in a polyserial band of varying width.

Similar Species:

Flamefish
Apogon maculatus

Twospot Cardinalfish
Apogon pseudomaculatus

Apogon pseudomaculatus
Twospot Cardinalfish – Apogon pseudomaculatus

Flamefish Apogon maculatus. Dark pupil-size spot below posterior part of second dorsal-fin base; dusky to dark spot or stripe on opercle at level of middle of eye. Large dark caudal saddle, extending ventrally well below lateral line. Two white stripes through eye. Scales on body ctenoid. Median predorsal scales present;. Posterior margin of preopercle serrate. Pectoral-fin soft rays 11 or 12 (rarely 13). Membraneous ventral preopercular flap not extending beyond posterior preopercle edge. Inner pelvic-fin ray mostly free from body. Segmented anal-fin rays 8. No large caniniform teeth; teeth in both jaws villiform, in a polyserial band of varying width. Scales around caudal peduncle 17-20.

Twospot Cardinalfish Apogon pseudomaculatus. Dark pupil-size spot below posterior part of second dorsal-fin base; dusky to dark spot or stripe on opercle at level of middle of eye. Dark caudal spot about pupil-size, placed mostly above lateral line. Two white stripes above and below pupil. Scales on body ctenoid. Median predorsal scales present;. Posterior margin of preopercle serrate. Pectoral-fin soft rays 11 or 12 (rarely 13). Membraneous ventral preopercular flap not extending beyond posterior preopercle edge. Inner pelvic-fin ray mostly free from body. Segmented anal-fin rays 8. No large caniniform teeth; teeth in both jaws villiform, in a polyserial band of varying width. Scales around caudal peduncle 14-16.

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