HomeFish encyclopediaRay-finned fishesPerch-like fishCardinalfishesShimmering cardinal Shimmering cardinal (Archamia lineolata) Scientific name: Archamia lineolata Cuvier, 1828 The Shimmering cardinal (Archamia lineolata) is a marine fish of the family Apogonidae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. Diagnosis: Rays: dorsal VI + I,9; anal II,12-14; pectoral rays 14 (rarely 13 or 15). Gill rakers 6-7 + 15-17. Lateral-line scales 25+3-4. Median predorsal scales 5-7. Body depth 2.4-2.6 in SL; body width 2.3-2.4 in body depth; eye diameter 2.7-2.8 in head length; first dorsal spine 1.85-2.4 in second spine; second dorsal spine 2.4-3.0, and third dorsal spine 2.4-2.9 in head length; spine of second dorsal fin 2.3-2.8, and second anal spine 2.7-3.0 in head length; pelvic-fin length 4.7-5.1 and caudal-peduncle length 5.0-5.35 in SL; distance from insertion of pelvic spine to anal-fin origin 4.25-4.6 in SL. Usually 1-4 small teeth present on median basilingual ridge. Posterior preopercular edge completely serrate, or nearly so; ventral edge serrate on posterior half. Scaly sheath along anal-fin base well developed.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameArchamia lineolataFamilyApogonidae (Cardinalfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length10.3Depth range1–20 m (3–66 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 20 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Indian Ocean: known only from the Red Sea. Reports outside this area are misidentifications of several other species, including bleekeri, flavofasciata, fucata, macroptera, and mozambiquensis.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026