Jaydia ellioti (Day, 1875)
Flag-in cardinal-fish
photo by CSIRO

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  16 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 18 - 106 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to the southern Marshall Islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819) and northwestern Australia. Also reported from New Caledonia (Ref. 26587). Occurrence in Taiwan needs confirmation.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8
Biology:  Normally found in sandy to muddy bottoms. Has luminous organs on the thorax and abdomen which contain luciferin obtained from Cypridina plankton. Nocturnal species (Ref. 7300).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.