Bigtooth cardinalfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bigtooth cardinalfish |
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The bigtooth cardinalfish (scientific name: Paroncheilus affinis) is a type of fish found in the ocean. It is also known as the longtooth cardinalfish. This fish belongs to a family called Apogonidae, which are often called cardinalfishes. It is the only species in its special group, or genus.
You can find bigtooth cardinalfish in the western and central parts of the Atlantic Ocean. They live near southern Florida in the United States, and from the Bahamas all the way down to Venezuela and Suriname. These fish are also found in the eastern Atlantic, including the Gulf of Guinea and near Cape Verde. They usually have a light orange color.
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What Does the Bigtooth Cardinalfish Look Like?
The bigtooth cardinalfish can grow up to about 11 centimeters (4.3 inches) long. Its body is flat from side to side, like it has been squeezed. It has a large head, a short snout, and big eyes.
Mouth and Teeth
Its mouth is quite big and opens at an angle. The lower jaw sticks out a bit. Inside its mouth, it has rows of tiny teeth. Mixed in with these small teeth are some larger, pointed teeth, like little canine teeth. It also has more teeth on the roof of its mouth.
Fins and Color
The bigtooth cardinalfish has two separate back fins. The first back fin has seven stiff spines, and the second has seven soft rays. Its bottom fin, called the anal fin, has two spines and nine soft rays. The top part of its body is a see-through salmon, orange, or bronze color. Its belly and the underside of its head are shiny and silver. You might see a faint dark line going from its mouth, through its eye, and to the top of its gill cover. The outer edge of its tail fin can also be dark.
Where Do Bigtooth Cardinalfish Live?
The bigtooth cardinalfish lives in the warm, tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In the eastern Atlantic, they are found along the coast from Ivory Coast to Angola. This includes the Gulf of Guinea, the Cape Verde Islands, and Ascension Island.
Western Atlantic Homes
In the western Atlantic, their home stretches from northeastern Florida southwards. They are found in the Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico. Their range continues from Mexico to northwestern Cuba, throughout the Caribbean Sea, and along the coast of South America to Venezuela, Suriname, and even Brazil.
Depth and Habitat
These fish usually live in waters between 15 and 300 meters (50 to 980 feet) deep. However, you will most often find them between 20 and 90 meters (65 to 295 feet) deep. They like to be near coral reefs or rocky areas. Sometimes they are found on seabeds covered with gravel or rubble.
How Bigtooth Cardinalfish Live Their Lives
The bigtooth cardinalfish is a nocturnal animal, which means it is active at night. During the day, it hides in cracks in rocks or in caves to stay safe. Sometimes, large groups of these fish gather near the bottom of underwater cliffs.
What They Eat
These fish are carnivorous, meaning they eat other animals. They hunt and eat small fish and squid. They also enjoy eating crustaceans, like crabs and shrimp, and other small animals that live on the seabed.
Family Life
Bigtooth cardinalfish breed all year long. A male and female fish will form a pair before they lay eggs. This species is known for "mouth brooding." This means one or both parents hold the eggs in their mouth until they hatch. Some experts say only the male holds the eggs, while others believe both parents might share this job.
Conservation Status of the Bigtooth Cardinalfish
Generally, the bigtooth cardinalfish does not face many threats. Their rocky homes are usually safe, and people do not fish for them for food or business.
Threats and Safety
However, in the Caribbean, they are in danger from the red lionfish (Pterois volitans). The red lionfish is an invasive species, meaning it is not naturally from that area and can harm the local ecosystem. Lionfish are very hungry and venomous. They hunt at night and can swallow bigtooth cardinalfish whole.
Despite this threat, the bigtooth cardinalfish is still common in most places. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed its conservation status as "least concern." This means they are not currently at risk of disappearing.
