Taeniamia leai (Waite, 1916)
Lea's cardinalfish
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  9 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 15 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: New Caledonia, Norfolk Island and Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 12-14. Diagnosis: Rays: dorsal VII + I,9; anal II,12-14; pectoral rays 14-15 (rarely 16). Gill rakers 5-7 + 16-19 (total 22-26). Lateral-line scales 25+2-3. Median predorsal scales 4 (rarely 3). Body depth 2.5-2.8 in SL; body width 2.05-2.8 in body depth; eye diameter 2.3-2.8 in head length; first dorsal spine 3.6 or more in length of second spine; second dorsal spine 2.9-4.4, and third dorsal spine 2.1-2.5 in head length; spine of second dorsal fin 2.25-2.8, and second anal spine 2.4-3.2 in head length; pelvic-fin length 4.4-5.0 in SL; caudal-peduncle depth 1.6-2.0in its length, and caudal-peduncle length 4.2-4.6 in SL; distance from insertion of pelvic spine to anal-fin origin 4.1-5.3 in SL. Posterior preopercular edge completely serrate or nearly so; ventral preopercular edge completely serrate; exposed posttemporal edge smooth. Scaly sheath along anal-fin base poorly developed or absent (Ref. 54391).
Biology:  Nocturnal species; occurs inshore (Ref. 7300); in shallow coastal and lagoon reefs, in groups among corals (Ref. 9710).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 February 2021 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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