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Blackbelted Cardinalfish

Taeniamia zosterophora

  • Fish
  • IUCN: Least concern
  • Usual depth2–18 m
  • Water temperature10–30 °C
  • Best monthsJuly, September, and November
  • How commonRare
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About this species

Taeniamia zosterophora, the girdled cardinalfish, is a species of cardinalfish native to the western Pacific Ocean from Indonesia to Vanuatu and from the Ryukyus to Australia. It is in the genus Taeniamia, which was described in 2013. This species can be found on reefs in protected bays and lagoons, occurring in dense schools around and among the branches of various species of branching corals, notably Porites cylindrica and species of Acropora and over sandy patches. It is found at depths from 1 to 40 m. This species can reach a total length of 8 cm (3.1 in). It can be distinguished by two narrow vertical red stripes next to its gills and by a distinct small black dot at the base of its tail. It occasionallyis found in the aquarium trade.

Text from the Wikipedia article “Taeniamia zosterophora”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

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Best months

Worldwide (open data)

  • January: 3 records
  • February: 1 records
  • March: 3 records
  • April: 5 records
  • May: 9 records
  • June: 4 records
  • July: 12 records
  • August: 10 records
  • September: 13 records
  • October: 10 records
  • November: 13 records
  • December: 4 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 2–18 m · Deepest record: 30 m

  • 0–10 m: 47 records
  • 10–20 m: 10 records
  • 20–30 m: 4 records
  • 30–40 m: 1 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 10–30 °C

  • 10–12 °C: 3 records
  • 12–14 °C: 0 records
  • 14–16 °C: 0 records
  • 16–18 °C: 1 records
  • 18–20 °C: 0 records
  • 20–22 °C: 0 records
  • 22–24 °C: 0 records
  • 24–26 °C: 10 records
  • 26–28 °C: 16 records
  • 28–30 °C: 63 records

Names and classification

English
Blackbelted Cardinalfish, Girdled Cardinalfish
Names in 1 more languages
Japanese
Kuroobiatohikitenjikudai, クロオビアトヒキテンジクダイ

Other scientific names: Apogon zosterophora, Apogon zosterophorus, Archamia zosterophora, Archamia zosterophorus, Taeniamia zosterophorus

Similar species

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

  • Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
  • Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
  • Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
  • 179 open-data records from 1929 to 2021.

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