Deepwater Cardinalfish

Epigonus marisrubri is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays VII + I,10; anal-fin rays II,9; pectoral-fin rays 18; pored lateral line scales 48 or 49; gill-rakers 10+19-20; pyloric caeca 10; vertebrae 10 + 15; 2 pterygiophores between neural spines 9 and 10; pectoral fins long, reaching level of second dorsal-fin origin; caudal fin forked; tongue with a band of 2-4 rows of densely-set teeth on glossohyal; opercle with short, poorly ossified spine and 1-2 small spinelets; otolith oval, elongate, sulcus and cristae weakly developed (Ref. 83754).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 2; Analsoft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 25

Inhabits the coastal reef area and continental shelf. Reported from a coral reef area at a depth of 52 m (northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea) (Ref. 93890).