Cardinalfish

Characterized by having a black band from the snout to the eye; distinct spot on nape; black spot on caudal fin base; black blotch on the first dorsal fin distally; blackish bands along the bases of the second dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 93839).

Clutches of eggs from a single female are mouthbrooded by males (Ref. 57684). Distinct pairing (obligate monogamy) during courtship and spawning (Ref. 205, 52884). Multiple spawner with 10-19 days interval between matings (Ref. 38747). Females attack conspecifics during courtship (Ref. 57684). The operational sex ratio is male biased all throughout the breeding season primarily due to a higher mortality in females, thus sex-role reversal is not predicted for this species (Ref. 57684).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 8

Lives in schools in coastal rocky reefs (Ref. 9137).

Occur in groups around coral bommies (Ref. 2334). In Japan, the breeding season is from June to September. Breeding pairs set up territory which is mostly defended by the female (Ref. 57690). Mouthbrooding is done by the male parents (Ref. 559 and 637) some of which resort to partial egg cannibalism probably to adjust the brood size to their buccal capacity (Ref. 57690). Nocturnal species, but courtship and spawning takes place during day (Ref. 7300, 37227, 38747).

分布於西太平洋區，由日本中部、台灣至菲律賓附近海域。台灣大部分海域有分布。

通常以下雜魚處理，用作魚飼料，有時會曬成小魚乾自家食用，並無任何經濟價值。

體長圓而側扁。頭大。吻長。眼大。D. VII-I，9；A. II，8； P. 15； Ll. 26； Pred. S. 2； Tr. 2/6； GR. (1)6+1+19(1)，HL.2.39-2.78；BD. 2.92-3.10 in SL；ED. 3.12-3.30；SnL. 4.11-4.35；IS.4.22-4.39 all in HL。體為橘紅色到淡棕色，腹部體色有時更淡且略帶銀色；吻部有一暗色短帶，下頜前端亦為黑色；兩側的後頭部各有一較瞳孔為小的黑點，而尾柄中央另有一與瞳孔大小相同的黑圓點；第一背鰭前端呈黑色，第二背鰭基底有黑線，其餘各鰭透明而略帶橘紅色。

主要棲息於礁石區。群居性，以多毛類或其它底棲無脊椎動物為食。雄性具口孵行為。