Scientific Name
Epigonus marisrubri

Common Name
Deepwater cardinalfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 25. Epigonus marisrubri is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays VII + I,10; anal-fin rays II,9; pectoral-fin rays 18; pored lateral line scales 48 or 49; gill-rakers 10+19-20; pyloric caeca 10; vertebrae 10 + 15; 2 pterygiophores between neural spines 9 and 10; pectoral fins long, reaching level of second dorsal-fin origin; caudal fin forked; tongue with a band of 2-4 rows of densely-set teeth on glossohyal; opercle with short, poorly ossified spine and 1-2 small spinelets; otolith oval, elongate, sulcus and cristae weakly developed (Ref. 83754).

Classification

Classified By

Krupp, Zajonz & Khalaf, 2009

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Deepwater cardinalfishes (Epigonidae)

Distribution

Region

Red Sea

Distribution

Red Sea: Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan. Only known from the type locality, a coral reef area in front of the Marine Science Station in Aqaba, at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, where it was found at a depth of only 52 m. First record of the family Epigonidae from the Red Sea, representing the northermost occurrence in the Indian Ocean (Ref. 83754).

Range

29°N - 30°N, 34°E - 35°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

52 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 52 - ? m (Ref. 83754)

Trophic Level

s.e. 0.00 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

13.6 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries:

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

Unknown

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated