Circular Cardinalfish

This species is distinguished by the following characters: 7 visible first-dorsal spines, the 8th spine hidden by skin; darkish circular spot on the opercle, below opercular spine within a pale area; color in life, uniformly reddish to brownish body, all fins pale; pectoral rays 13-14; predorsal scales 5; eye diameter 10-12% of SL; pectoral fin 25-31% of SL; body depth 37-40% of SL (Ref. 77037).

Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 24

A cryptic species seldom observed by divers, but are collected with ichthyocides, dredges and sleds. Its collection data suggests that it frequents 10-40 m depth zone, in association with beds of a calcareous algae, Halimeda or calcareous rubble, sometimes mixed with the pocilloporid coral Seriatopora hystrix (Ref. 77037).