• MORPHOLOGY:
  This species has 7 dorsal spines, 9 dorsal soft rays, 2 anal spines, 8 anal soft rays, 13 pectoral-fin rays, and 5 pelvic-fin rays.

• The second dorsal fin spine is shorter and does not reach the base of the third ray of the second dorsal fin when depressed.

•  It typically has 13 pectoral fin rays, as opposed to 14 in some related species such as A. erythrinus and A. marquesensis. The species lacks scattered dark chromatophores on the sides of the caudal peduncle, a feature present in A. marquesensis.

• Distinguishing features include pigment along the base of the second dorsal fin and on the dorsal surface of the caudal peduncle, a well-developed suborbital triangle of pigment, and a well-developed pigment blotch on the caudal fin base.

• It has 23 pored lateral-line scales, 6 predorsal scales, 2 large scales between the first dorsal fin and the lateral line (with a smaller third scale at the base of the dorsal fin), 14 circumpeduncular scales, 15 total gill rakers, and 7 developed gill rakers. There is no free edge of skin near the anterior nasal opening. When preserved, the body is whitish with black pigments scattered on the anterodorsal portion and caudal-fin base.

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE:

• Apogon indicus is distributed in the Pacific from New Caledonia to Kiribati, from Taiwan south to the Philippines, and east to Palau and the Northern Mariana Islands.

• In the Indian Ocean this species has been recorded from Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles, and the Chagos Archipelago.

HABITAT AND ECOLOGY

• Apogon indicus can be found on outer reef slopes in the surge zone, and outside of lagoon areas at a depth range of 2 - 10 m. The reefs on which this species is found, are typically located on the continental.

• slope in nutrient rich waters. During the day it typically shelters in crevices in coral and rock. At night individuals emerge to feed on the zoobenthos. This is a mouthbrooding species.