New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Smith's cardinalfish

Jaydia smithi Kotthaus, 1970
Max Length
14.5 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.6
Depth
22–230 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
21.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Smith's cardinalfish (Jaydia smithi) is a ray-finned fish of the family Apogonidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in benthic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 14.5 cm. It occurs at depths between 22 and 230 metres. With a trophic level of 3.6, it is a mid-level predator. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Scientific Name
Jaydia smithi
Authority
Kotthaus, 1970
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
14.5 cm
Depth Range
22–230 m
Latitude
9°S – 23°N
Trophic Level
3.6
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
21.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8. Luminous organs on the thorax and abdomen.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Smith's cardinalfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

👄 Mouth Brooder

Mouthbrooders . Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 22 - 230 m , usually 50 - ? m . Tropical; 23°N - 9°S, 32°E - 171°E north to southern China and southern Taiwan, south to Bali, Indonesia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.6±0.6

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00955 × L3.1 (TL)
Max TL
14.5cm
Dorsal Spines
8
Dorsal Rays
9
Anal Spines
2
Anal Rays
8

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2023

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
21.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.6
Predator
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
23°N – 9°S
Described By
Kotthaus, 1970

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Apogon andhrae Dutt & Radharkrishna Rao 1980 Synonym
Apogon smithi Kotthaus 1970 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Smith's cardinalfish ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.