Cheilodipterus isostigma (Schultz, 1940)
Dog-toothed cardinalfish
Cheilodipterus isostigma
photo by CSIRO

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  11 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 4 - 50 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Maldives, Philippines and Palau south to Indonesia; east to Tonga . Also in Moluccas, Belau, and Caroline (Ref. 1602).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Distinguished externally from C. quinquelineatus by the position of the basicaudal spot which is in line with the mid-lateral stripe, and internally by having canine teeth at the end of the lower jaw (Ref. 37816, 48635). Description: Characterized by pale grey to whitish color; five narrow black stripes on body; caudal fin base yellow surrounding small black spot; greatest depth of body 3.2-3.7 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Occurs in lagoon reefs to depths of at least 12 m. Usually in small groups among staghorn corals (Ref. 48635). Often collected with C. quinquelineatus, but tends to prefer deeper areas (Ref. 37816). Feeds on small fishes. Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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