Iridescent Cardinalfish

The Iridescent Cardinalfish (Pristiapogon kallopterus) is a species prevalent in tropical marine and estuarine environments closely associated with reef ecosystems. It inhabits depths ranging from 3 to 158 meters and can reach a maximum length of 15.5 cm. Its habitat includes clear water lagoon patch reefs and seaward reefs, particularly from the lower surge zone to a depth of 45 meters. The species is benthopelagic and typically solitary, primarily feeding at night on small benthic and free-swimming crustaceans. Reproduction involves mouthbrooding, with distinct pairing observed during courtship and spawning.

The Iridescent Cardinalfish is characterized by its tan to light red-brown coloration, with dusky margins on the scales. It features a prominent brown mid-lateral stripe extending from the snout tip through the eye to the upper caudal base, although this stripe may diminish in intensity on the peduncle. Other distinguishing features include a black spot at the base of the caudal fin, a relatively broad midlateral dark stripe, a yellow anterior margin on the dorsal fin, and green to blue iridescent shades visible under nocturnal lighting. Juveniles exhibit a yellowish head and belly.

Geographically, the species is distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from the 🌊 Red Sea southward to Algoa Bay (🇿🇦 South Africa) in 🇿🇦 South Africa, and extending eastward to the Line, Marquesan, and Pitcairn islands. Its range also includes northern areas up to southern 🇯🇵 Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, as well as southern locales such as 🇳🇿 New Zealand and Rapa.