Animal Species:Southern Cardinalfish, Vincentia conspersa (Klunzinger, 1872)

The Southern Cardinalfish is a small reddish-brown fish that is endemic to southern Australian coastal waters.

Southern Cardinalfish, Vincentia conspersa

Southern Cardinalfish, Vincentia conspersa
David Muirhead © David Muirhead

Alternative Name/s

Orange Cardinalfish, Southern Gobbleguts

Identification

The Southern Cardinalfish has an oval-shaped body with a long caudal peduncle. It has two tall dorsal fins and large pelvic fins. The mouth is large and oblique. The body is greyish-brown to red-brown often with small dark brown or black spots on the head and body. Juveniles are sometimes flecked with white.

Size range

It grows to 12 cm in length.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia, occurring from the central coast of Victoria and Tasmania to the Great Australian Bight.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Vincentia conspersa

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Southern Cardinalfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species occurs in inshore rocky reef habitats in temperate marine waters down to depths of over 65 m.

Classification

Species:
conspersa
Genus:
Vincentia
Family:
Apogonidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Gomon, M.F., Bray, D. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 2008. The Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Reed New Holland. Pp. 928.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Southern Cardinalfish, Vincentia conspersa, Apogonidae, red, brown, endemic to Australia, Orange Cardinalfish, Southern Gobbleguts, oval-shaped body, large mouth, oblique mouth, greyish-brown, red-brown, dots/spots, 10 cm - 30 cm, rocky reef, temperate water, marine,