Scientific Name
Cheilodipterus arabicus

Common Name
Tiger cardinal

Biology
Color in life pale brown with 13-16 dark brown stripes. In large fish, dorsal stripes may be irregular. A small dark spot encircled by yellow area on caudal peduncle. Spot sometimes expanded to form a dark brown bar around caudal peduncle. Distinct snow white bar between dark caudal spot (or bar) and posterior ends of body stripes. First dorsal fin dusky to dark brown. Other fins pale (in young) to dusky (in adults), but never as dark as first dorsal fin. Snout somewhat darker than body (Ref 8525).

Classification

Classified By

Gmelin, 1789

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Cardinalfishes (Apogonidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Indian Ocean

Distribution

Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Tanzania, Mozambique, Seychelles, and India. Absence of the species elsewhere in the Indian Ocean, is probably due to inadequate sampling. Absence from the Gulf of Aqaba and Persian Gulf may be the result of competition with lachneri and persicus, respectively.

Range

30°N - 30°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

3 m

Depth To - meters

25 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 25 m

Trophic Level

3.5 s.e. 0.50 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

18.0 cm

Common Length

8.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (21 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated