© Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia Full citation Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. J. Baker (consultant); Science and Conservation Division, and Coast and Marine Conservation branches of S.A. Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH); Marine and Coastal Community Network of S.A. (MCCN), and Threatened Species Network (TSN). Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia.

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Smooth Cardinalfish

Family Name:	Apogonidae
Scientific Name:	Vincentia macrocauda Allen, 1987
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  The Smooth Cardinalfish is included here because (i) Vincentia macrocauda is a benthic, mouth-brooding species with localised reproduction, found over a limited depth range on subtidal reefs; all of these characteristics may increase the vulnerability of this species to site-specific impacts; and (ii) little is known of the biology and population dynamics of this species, or of its distribution, habitat and relative abundance in South Australia, where there are very few records to date.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No listings known

Distribution

There are few records of this species, but it is known mainly from the gulfs region in South Australia, and Albany in W.A. (Paxton et al., 1989; Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994).
In W.A., V. macrocauda has been recorded in the Recherche Archipelago, and is noted as being rarely recorded in other parts of that State (W.A. Museum, 2003; Hutchins, 2005).

South Australia

Examples of locations in S.A. where the species has been recorded include Troubridge Island (S.A. Museum record F3916, from 1969), upper Spencer Gulf (S.A Museum specimen F10697, cited by R. Foster, pers. comm., 2006), and three records from central and lower Spencer Gulf (Currie and Sokokin, 2010).

Habitat

The Smooth Cardinalfish lives in crevices and gaps in rocky reef (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994), and in macroalgae (e.g. specimen from Troubridge Island, collected in 1969) (R. Foster, S.A. Museum, pers. comm., 2006).
In southwestern Australia, V. macrocauda has been recorded in reef habitat, and also in softer bottom habitat, that has been worked by benthic trawl / dredge (Hutchins, 2005).
To date, the species has been found in depths from 8m to 54.5m (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994; Currie and Sorokin, 2010).

Notes on the Biology and Behaviour

Growth

Smooth Cardinalfish grows to around 10cm (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994).

Diet and Feeding Behaviour

Species of Vincentia usually remain hidden during the day, within crevices and gaps in rocky reef, and come out at night to feed on shrimps and other crustaceans (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994). During a study in Spencer Gulf, the gut contents of two individuals were examined and both contained 100% crustacea (unspecified) (Currie and Sorokin, 2010).

Reproduction

In Vincentia, there is reported to be a distinct pairing during courtship and spawning (Breder and Rosen, 1966, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2007).
Members of the Apogonidae have demersal eggs with adhesive filaments (Mooi, 1990).
The eggs of Vincentia species are incubated in the mouth of the males until they hatch, improving the young’s chances of survival (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994).

Fisheries Information

Specific information is not available on the capture of Smooth Cardinalfish in fisheries. However, it is noted that Cardinalfishes in the families Apogonidae are amongst the top 40 of about 250 fish species taken commercially in W.A. for the aquarium trade. During the period 2000 – 2003, the annual average catch was 24,084 specimens, all unspecified (W.A. Department of Fisheries, 2004b). The number of Smooth Cardinalfish taken in this fishery is not known for this report, because cardinalfish catches are not reported at species level.

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species

Vincentia cardinalfish are benthic species, and the males are mouth-brooders (Allen, 1999). Therefore, reproduction is localised, and dispersal may be limited. Localised reproduction increases the vulnerability of species to site-associated impacts.
Smooth Cardinalfish has been recorded over a limited depth range on subtidal reefs. The depth range and locations where this species has been recorded to date, includes trawl grounds, which increases the vulnerability of such site-associated species to localised impacts.
The central South Australian coast is recorded as being the edge of the geographic distribution of Smooth Cardinalfish.

Threatening Processes

Processes that degrade nearshore reefs (e.g. dredging, removal of rocks and vegetation, sedimentation, eutrophication from coastal discharges etc) may adversely affect site-associated benthic fish species; however no specific data are available on the effects of such habitat degradation on Vincentia populations.
Trawling may be a threatening process, but more data (and a risk assessment) are required. Generally, populations of species in the Apogonidae are considered to be adversely affected by trawling (see Stobutski et al., 2001); however there is no specific information as to the effects of trawl bycatch on V. macrocauda populations. It is noted that three specimens of this species were reocrded during a trawl survey of Spencer Gulf (Currie and Sorokin, 2010), which includes grounds worked periodically by prawn trawlers.
Over time, populations of nearshore benthic species of apparently limited depth range and limited dispersal ability may be adversely affected by oceanic warming; however there are no specific data. 

Research Requirements

More information is required on the Smooth Cardinalfish’s geographic distribution (particularly within S.A.), depth range, relative abundance or rarity, habitat requirements, and biology.
If possible, cardinalfish catches in fisheries should be recorded to species level, through a bycatch observer program, so that an estimate of the catch over space and time can be made. This would help to improve knowledge of the distribution and relative abundance of the less commonly recorded species in the family, as well as assisting an assessment of threatening processes.
In W.A., commercial catches of cardinalfishes for the aquarium industry should be recorded to species level.

Management Requirements

Where possible, measures to reduce the bycatch of cardinalfish in fisheries (including prawn trawls) are required.
Ongoing efforts are required to reduce the levels of degrading processes that affect nearshore reefs, and to restore such habitats.
In W.A., if Vincentia species are part of the cardinalfish catch for the aquarium industry, an assessment of the populations, and sustainability of this practice, should be undertaken.

Other Information

Smooth Cardinalfish is the least known of the Vincentia species (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994)

Support for S.A. listing:

B. McDonald, DEH South Australia