Zoramia leptacanthus (Bleeker, 1856)
Threadfin cardinalfish
Long-spine cardinalfish
Zoramia leptacanthus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  6 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 12 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and Mozambique Island (Ref. 4329) to Samoa and Tonga, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia; throughout Micronesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Semi-transparent to whitish in color with blue spots and incomplete, narrow, orange bars on head and anterior part of body (Ref. 2334). Tall first dorsal fin, eyes blue (Ref. 48635). Elongate first dorsal fin; greatest depth of body 2.1-2.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Dense aggregations (often mixed with other species, like Archamia fucata, A. zosterophora are found above mounds of branching coral Porites cylindrica in sheltered, often turbid bays and lagoons (Ref. 1602, 48635). Nocturnal species (Ref. 7300).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 December 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Type locality: Ternate, Moluccas (Ref. 48635). Known from Maumere Bay, Flores and Komodo I. (Allen, pers. comm.; Ref. 47567) and Mentawai Islands (Ref. 27157). Also recorded from Raja Ampat Islands, Pulau Seribu, Togean and Banggai Islands andPulau Weh; with an Indonesian distribution from Papua to Sumatra (Ref. 47567).


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