Tiger cardinal (Cheilodipterus arabicus)

Scientific name: Cheilodipterus arabicus Gmelin, 1789

The Tiger cardinal (Cheilodipterus arabicus) is a marine fish of the family Apogonidae.

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).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Cheilodipterus arabicus
Family: Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 18.0
Common length: 8.0
Depth range: 3–25 m (10–82 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 25 m
Climate: Tropical
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.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (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