Astrapogon stellatus
| Astrapogon stellatus | ||||||||||||
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Astrapogon stellatus in a shell |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Astrapogon stellatus | ||||||||||||
| ( Cope , 1867) |
Astrapogon stellatus is one of the approximately 200 species of cardinalfish (Apogonidae).
distribution
It lives in coral reefs in the tropical western Atlantic, from Bermuda and Florida via the Bahamas and the Antilles to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil at depths of up to 40 meters.
features
Astrapogon stellatus becomes 8 cm long. Its gill cover and scales are smooth, the center of the region in front of the dorsal fin is bare.
Way of life
Astrapogon stellatus lives in a commensal relationship with the marine snail Strombus gigas from the Strombidae family and with the clam Atrina rigida . Both partners do not suffer any harm from this coexistence, and the fish can protect itself in this way. At night the eight centimeters long fish leave their partner and go in search of food. Like almost all cardinalfish, Astrapogon stellatus eats small crabs and is a mouthbrooder .
swell
- Astrapogon stellatus on Fishbase.org (English)