Phaeoptyx conklini
Freckled Cardinalfish
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
There are no photos available for this taxon yet.
Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes)
Phaeoptyx
Phaeoptyx conklini (Freckled Cardinalfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
It may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, or formatting.
When citing, please reference the original source rather than this page.
Learn more about our species accounts.
Characters
Jaws, vomer, and palatine have narrow bands of villiform teeth. Preopercular ridge is smooth, and posterior margin of preoperculum is finely serrated, with fleshy posteroventral process extending to near margin of operculum. Gill rakers on first arch number 14 to 16 on lower limb. Measurements are expressed as percent of SL: head length 34%–37%, snout length 7%–9%, eye diameter 13%–14%, upper jaw length 20%–22%, caudal peduncle length 23%–26%, body depth 32%–36%. Pectoral fin has 11 or 12 rays, first dorsal fin has six slender spines, second dorsal fin has one spine and 9 rays, and anal fin has two spines and 8 rays. Inner pelvic fin ray is connected along its length to abdomen by membrane. Caudal fin is forked. Scales are ctenoid and deciduous. Median predorsal scales number 5, and circumpeduncular scales encircling caudal peduncle number 12.
Color is reddish to brownish and densely and uniformly covered with minute dark brown spots. Dark stripes near bases of second dorsal fin and anal fin are separated from base by pale streak. Dark elongated blotch is located on caudal peduncle.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from southern Florida and Bermuda to Venezuela, including the northern and southern Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles.
Habitat Associations
Clear, shallow water
Associated with empty conch shells, rubble, and empty containers
Biology
Maximum known size is about 65 mm SL
Commonly found on shallow rocky and coral bottoms (Ref. 9626), in empty conch shells, rubble, or empty containers. Abundant where Acropora palmata abound (Ref. 9626). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Presence of buccal pouch for brooding eggs (Ref. 39366).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; bearers (external brooders). Are mouthbrooders (Ref. 240, 58878). Spawning may occur throughout the year (Ref. 39366). Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2011-03-10. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
References
Longley and Hildebrand 1941
Böhlke and Chaplin 1968
Böhlke and Randall 1968
Bright and Cashman 1974
Hoese and Moore 1977
Hoese and Moore 1998
Robins and Ray 1986
Boschung 1992
Cervigón 1993b
Randall 1996
Smith 1997
Smith-Vaniz et al. 1999
Gon 2002a
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Randall, J.E. (1996) Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3nd ed. 368 p.
Smith, C.L. (1997) National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.
Charney, P. (1976) Oral brooding in the cardinalfishes Phaeoptyx conklini and Apogon maculatus from the Bahamas. Copeia 1976(1):198-200.
Comments On Phaeoptyx conklini