The cardinalfish of Bangai
small marine bony fish native to Indonesia’s Banggai Archipelago is called the Banggai cardinalfish. Nevertheless, the trade in live reef ornaments has spread to other regions. The degradation of their habitat and their exploitation for the decorative live reef trade pose the biggest risks to the Banggai cardinalfish. Under the Endangered Species Act, NOAA Fisheries designated the species as threatened in 2016.
Look
The species’ highly forked caudal fin, extended anal and second dorsal fin rays, and tasseled first dorsal fin set it apart from all other cardinalfish species. With contrasting light and black bars and whitish specks all over a silvery body, it is incredibly colorful. Each fish has a distinct dot pattern that can be used to identify certain specimens. Males and females have similar appearances overall, but males tend to have a bigger mouth gap in relation to their body length, and they may be identified from one another when they are brooding because of the enlargement of their oral cavity.
Actions and Nutrition
The main food source for Banggai cardinalfish is copepods; however, when planktonic creatures are plentiful in the vicinity, they will also eat them.
Where They Occupy
The Banggai cardinalfish lives in calm, shallow waters around seagrass beds and coral reefs in Indonesia’s Banggai Archipelago.
Lifespan and Fertility
The Banggai cardinalfish can live up to five years, but its average lifespan is just two to three years. This species possesses a number of distinctive reproductive characteristics. The sex roles are reversed, as in the case of many cardinalfish, with the males tending to the eggs in their jaws until they hatch, at which point they release the fully developed youngsters.
Dangers
Because of its vivid hues, the Banggai cardinalfish is much sought after in the live reef decorative trade. However, the usage of cyanide and fish bombs (usually manufactured with fertilizer and phosphorus) to catch fish for the live reef fish trade is destroying its coral reef ecosystem. Moreover, trash and nitrates from human population development and agricultural runoff rise in the marine environment, causing algae blooms and decreasing the amount of light and oxygen available for corals.
