Common Name: Sydney Cardinalfish

Distribution: Common throughout the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Southern Queensland to southern New South Wales, eastern Victoria. Abundant in Sydney waters hence the common name.

Ecological Notes: Frequents coastal and offshore reef. Found in dark recesses under rocks and ledges. Usually solitary. Depth to 30 m.

Additional Notes: Distinguished from other species by the wide gap between the second and third stripe, the circular dark spot on the caudal peduncle, and the short stripe posterior to the upper portion of the eye. Osthorhinchus doederleini is similar but lacks the short stripe posterior to the eye, Ostorhinchus taeniophorus lacks the dark circular spot on the caudal peduncle and has narrower stripe between the second and third dark stripe. Large mouth of the male serves as a brooding chamber for the young, see top photograph. Shelters in recesses and under ledges during daylight hours, venturing forth at night to feed. Grows to 14 cm.

References: R. Stuart-Smith, G. Edgar, A. Green, I. Shaw, Tropical Marine Fishes of Australia. Reed New Holland Publishers, 2015. p.120.

Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=apogon+limenus. Accessed 24/04/18.