Bridled Cardinalfish

Apogon fraenatus Valenciennes

Apogon fraenatus Valenciennes, 1832:57–58, pl. 4: fig. 4 [type-localities: New Guinea and Guam].

DIAGNOSIS.—A dark stripe from snout through eye on middle of body, tapering in width to round, centrally located basicaudal spot; pectoral rays usually 14; gillrakers on lower arch usually 13; circumpeduncular scales usually 12.

DESCRIPTION.—Important morphometric and meristic characters are treated in Tables 1–3. For general shape and pigment pattern see Figure 7. Proportions (as percent standard length): body depth 27–35; head length 38–42; eye length 11–14; snout length 9–12; bony interorbital width 5–7; upper jaw length 14–19; caudal peduncle depth 14–16; caudal peduncle length 22–27; dorsal spine lengths—first 2–3, second 8–11, third 15–19, fourth 16–20, spine in second dorsal 12–14; anal spine lengths—first 2, second 11–13; pectoral fin length 21–25; pelvic fin length 21–23.

Second dorsal fin 1, 9; 2 anal spines; pectoral fin usually 14 (rarely 13, 15, or 16); pelvic fin 1, 5; well-developed gillrakers 9–13 (2 + 3 to 7 + 11), including rudiments 17–21 (2 to 3 + 2; 7 to 11+2 to 7); pored lateral-line scales 23–25; transverse scale rows above the lateral line 2; median predorsal scales 4–5; circumpeduncular scales 12 (5 + 2 + 5).

COLOR OF PRESERVED SPECIMENS.—The salient color pattern consists of a horizontal dark brown stripe on midbody extending from the tip of snout on upper jaw through middle of eye, on opercle, and laterally on body to base of caudal fin, where its width narrows considerably, and ends in a conspicuous, round, dark-brown spot at midbase of caudal fin; lateral stripe widest and more intensely developed on head behind eye, its width more than one-half diameter of pupil, narrowing posteriorly on caudal peduncle, where it may become faint or obscure; dark basicaudal spot almost equal to diameter of pupil; head and trunk otherwise pale to light dusky; outer tips of membranes of first three spines of first dorsal fin blackish; outer rays of lobes of caudal fin dark brownish; a dark, narrow stripe parallel to and just above base of second dorsal fin and below base of anal fin, often faint or obscure; remainder of fins pale.

COLOR IN LIFE.—Axelrod and Emmens (1969:216) illustrate this species in color from a color transparency.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—A wide-ranging species, occurring from the Gulf of Agaba, Red Sea, eastward to the Tuamotu Archipelago (Figure 8); absent in the Hawaiian Islands.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—956 specimens, the largest 85 mm SL.

Lectotype: MNHN 8709, 70.2, New Guinea, collected by Quoy and Gaimard.

Other Material: RED SEA: USNM 211426, 3 (56–72), Ras Burqa, NW Gulf of Agaba, Egypt. UTAI-NS 5918 (90), Sinai Peninsula, Taba.

GULF OF ADEN: USNM 211427, 4 (56–63), Gold Mohur Bay, 3 mi E Steamer Point, Aden.

EAST AFRICA: RUSI 3331 (76), Kenya, Malindi. RUSI 3330 (33), Mozambique, Palma. RUSI 3332 (38), Mozambique, Kifufi I. RUSI 3329 (34), Mozambique, Pinda Reef. RUSI 3333, 2 (47, 77), Pinda Reef. RUSI 1735, 2 (72, 77), Mozambique, Inhaca I. RUSI 1834 (85), Inhaca I.

COMORO ISLANDS: USNM 211428, 21 (23–59), N coast Anjouan I. USNM 211429 (23), Grande Comoro I. USNM 211430 (49), 12°46′S, 47°45′E. USNM 211627 (54), N coast Anjouan I.

ALDABRA ISLANDS: USNM 211432, 29 (60–83), SE portion of Ile Picard.

AMIRANTES ISLES: USNM 211433, 26 (20–68), vicinity St. Joseph I., SW of Ressource I. ANSP 127823, 8 (23–37), St. Joseph I., SW of Ressource I.

SEYCHELLES: ANSP 127824, 5 (56–85), Mahé I., Beau Vallon Bay. USNM 211434, 49 (43–83), locality as above. ANSP 127822, 3 (29–52), Curieuse I., SE of Rouge Pt.

ST. BRANDON'S SHOALS: USNM 225685 (37), S of Raphael I.

MADAGASCAR: USNM 211431 (23), Nossi Bé.

MOZAMBIQUE: RUSI 3334 (40), Wamizi I. RUSI 3335 (24), Mofamede I.

AGALEGA ISLANDS: USNM 225682, 3 (24–26), North I.

CEYLON: USNM 211435, 8 (56–74); USNM 211436 (36); USNM 211437 (75); USNM 211438, 3 (32–38); USNM 211439, 2 (38, 40); MCZ 46924, 13 (26–73); all Trincomalee. USNM 211440 (35), Hikkaduwa, off Akralla.

MALDIVE ISLANDS: FMNH 75689, 6 (24–47), Ari Atoll. FMNH 75596, 2 (43, 44), Fadiofolu Atoll.

THAILAND: USNM 211441, 6 (25–36), Phuket, Patong Bay.

BORNEO: USNM 149380 (A. 8889) (48), Mabul I., vicinity Sibuko Bay.

MOLUCCAS: USNM 209926 (61), Saparu I. USNM 211442 (76), Poka, Ambon. USNM 211624, 2 (24, 24), Ambon I., off Tandjung Suli.

SOUTH CHINA SEA: GVF 2116 (60), Bay of Nhatrang.

CELEBES (Sulawesi): USNM 149378, 2 (22, 28), Makassar I., Albatross-Philippine Exp. USNM 149383 (A. 13672, 20041, 23459, 23460, 23461, 23462, 23969, 23970, 23972), 9 (46–68), Limbe Strait. USNM 149384 (A. 13834–5, 23111–2, 23291, 23634, 24008), 7 (60–74), Powati Harbor, Makyan I., Molucca Passage. USNM 149389 (A. 23108) (48), Tomahu I., vicinity Bourol. USNM 149392 (A. 23714)(45), Labuan Blanda I., Buton Strait. USNM 149373, 2 (49, 61), Tomahu I. SU 28851, 2 (22, 38), Lembeh Strait. USNM 213086, 47 (25–64), Kabaena I., Tallabassi Bay.

JAVA: USNM 213087, 9 (22–76), Pulau Seribae. USNM 213189, 47 (50–74), Buton Bay, Buton I.

PHILIPPINES: USNM 149379 (A. 8301) (46), San Miguel I., Tobaco Bay, E coast Luzon. USNM 149381 (A. 12661) (56), Port San Pio Quinto, Camiguin I., China Sea, vicinity Batanes. USNM 149385 (A. 14012) (59), W coast Palaui I., off northern Luzon. USNM 149387 (A. 17347, 17348, 17350), 3 (69–79), Basilan I., S of Zamboanga. USNM 149388 (A. 18570, 24040, 24043, 24044, 24046, 5 (44–68), Malanipa I., S of Zamboanga. USNM 149390 (A. 23376) (45), Alimango Bay, Burias I. USNM 56192 (76), Bacon, Sorsogon, Luzon I. USNM 149377, 4 (56–65), Port Jamelo, Luzon, Albatross-Philippine Exp. USNM 149374 (61), Limbones Cove, Luzon. USNM 149375, 10(18–22), Zamboanga Light, Mindanao, Albatross-Philippine Exp. USNM 149376 (22), Port Dupon, Leyte I., Albatross-Philippine Exp. CAS-SU 27365, 2 (54, 76), Negros I. USNM 225690 (75), Palawan, Puerto Princessa Bay.

NEW GUINEA: USNM 211443, 128 (22–63), Madang Harbor, inside S tip Paeowai I. USNM, 211444, 2 (22, 24), Madang, S end Belian I. USNM 211445 (26), Madang Harbor, inside S tip Paeowai I. AMS 1.17087-011, 10 (38–57), same locality as USNM 211445. SU 28242 (39), Madang.

NEW BRITAIN: USNM 211446, 64 (23–61), Simpson Harbor.

FIJI ISLANDS: USNM 205773, 3 (58–60), Viti Levu, S of Suva. USNM 211447, 6 (18–35), Wailangilala I.

MARSHALL ISLANDS: USNM 142464, 2 (66, 67), Bikini Atoll. USNM 142465, 3 (34–40), Rongelap Atoll, Rongelap I.

PALAU ISLANDS (Belau): GVF 534 (33), Peleliu I. GVF 867, 76 (40–64), Kayangel Atoll. GVF 1450 (50), Ngerdiluches Reef. G VF 1991, 7 (46–54), WSW of Aulong I.

CAROLINE ISLANDS: GVF 216, 6 (47–61); GVF 215, 4 (47–60); GVF 185, (40); all Ifaluk Atoll. GVF 1920, 8 (45–68), Yap I.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: BPBM 15650, 4 (40–55), Florida I., N side Tanavula Pt. AMS I.17491002, 4 (38–49), Savo I. AMS I.17481-002. (33); GVF 1812 (77); both Guadalcanal. SU 25361, 2 (50, 58), Isabel I.

SOCIETY ISLANDS: BPBM 11267, 3 (46–63), Tahiti I., Papara, Teavaraa Pass. BPBM 8622, 5 (23–27), Papetoa, Moorea I. AMNH 42952 (53) AMNH 42958 (24), Bora Bora, SW Topua I. AMNH 42948, 40 (21–24); FMNH 22277 (64); CAS-SU 24736 (72); GVF 1111 (63); GVF 1289, 3 (31–56); all Moorea. AMNH 42959, 31 (38–59); AMNH 42953 (36); AMNH 42949, 3 (20–31); AMNH 42957, 3 (20–28); all Tahiti I., off Papeari. AMNH 42951, 100 (20–65), Tahiti I., S of Tapueraha Pass. AMNH 42954, 2 (55, 61), Moorea, W side of pass into Cook's Bay. AMNH 42950, 15 (22–31), Huahini Nui I. FMNH 75724 (39); FMNH 75725 (27); both Tahiti. GVF 1369, 3 (45–58); GVF 1366, 5 (40–61); both Bora-Bora. GVF 1339, 4; 1340, 15; 1342, 1; 1347, 6; 1350, 4; 1344, 15; 1355, 19; all Tahiti.

LINE ISLANDS: BPBM 14073 (39); BPBM 16707, 12 (45–55); both Fanning I. ANSP 82243, 10 (16–23); ANSP 82242, 38 (16–24); both Christmas I.

AUSTRALIA: AMS 1.17168-001 (41), Clovelly, New South Wales. AMNH 42955 (30), West Australia, just S of Mandu-Mandu Cr. AMNH 42956, 50, Escape Reef, Queensland. ANSP 123333, 5 (18–31); ANSP 123309, 2 (68, 77); ANSP 123379, 2 (61, 69); all Big Hope I., Queensland.

NEW HEBRIDES (Vanuatu): AMS I.17475-003, 7 (23–68).

GILBERT ISLANDS (Kiribati Republic): USNM 211628, 5 (49–70), Abaiang Atoll.