Robust cardinalfish (Epigonus robustus)

Scientific name: Epigonus robustus Barnard, 1927

The Robust cardinalfish (Epigonus robustus) is a marine fish of the family Epigonidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 25. Opercular spine present. Largest spine on all fins generally are not longer than the diameter of the eye. Contrasting pigmented black sections on the head around the eyes, along the lower back edge of the gill cover and isthmus. Body brown above and paler below. Body very oily.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Epigonus robustus
Family: Epigonidae (Deepwater cardinalfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 22.0
Depth range: 500–3000 m (1640–9843 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 500 - 3000 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Circumglobal in southern temperate waters. South Atlantic: continental slope off Argentina and off South Africa. Indo-Pacific: seamounts in the West-Indian and West-Australian ridges, Great Australian Bight, Mill Rise, seamounts in the Khizen and Eltanin Fracture zones.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026