Cardinalfish

Body is coppery or silvery with a dark saddle on the upper half of the caudal peduncle; wedge shaped bar below eye (Ref. 2334, 48635). Greatest depth of body 2.2-2.5 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Mouthbrooders (Ref. 240). Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning (Ref. 205).

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

Nocturnal species (Ref. 75154) which inhabits coral reefs in lagoons and floodplains (Ref. 9137). Feeds on planktonic and benthic organisms (Ref. 26990). Exhibits the black gut phenomenon. In nocturnal predators, it appears to serve to conceal bioluminiscent prey in the stomach cavity (Ref. 46685).

Found in protected coastal and seaward reef slopes in oceanic locations, to 15 m depth; secretive and rarely seen during daytime (Ref. 48635). Feeds on ostracods, amphipods, shrimps, and polychaetes (Ref. 37816).

分布於印度-太平洋區，西起紅海至Inhaca Island，東至萊恩及土木土群島等，北至台灣、日本，南迄大堡礁及拉帕等。台灣分布於南部及澎湖等海域。

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. 13； Ll. 28；Pred.S. 3；GR.(7-8)+(19-21)；BD. 2.2-2.4，HL.2.4-2.6 in SL；ED. 2.6-2.7 in head。自眼睛下緣到前鰓蓋角之頰部有一三角形黑帶；尾柄有一馬鞍形之黑塊，其下緣擴散到側線或超過；第一背鰭頂端、第二背鰭前面和尾鰭上下葉邊緣顏色暗。以前所記載之魔鬼天竺鯛(/A. fuscus/)為本種之誤鑑。

主要棲息於海洋中島嶼的受保護沿岸及面海的礁坡。白天棲息極其隱密，甚少被發現，以小型甲殼類為食。