Inbetween Cardinalfish

Differs from C. artus by having darker stripes and fewer gill rakers, and from C. macrodon by having narrower dark stripes (Ref. 37816). Similar to C. heptazona, but lacking yellow on snout, and C. octolineatus, but without black tip on dorsal fin. Juveniles and sub-adults with large yellow area on caudal peduncle with a small black spot in its center (Ref. 48635).

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

Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 8

Occurs in reefs over sand or mud bottoms (Ref. 58534). Solitary in caves to 20 m depth (Ref. 48635).

Occurs in reefs over sand or mud bottoms. Solitary in caves to 20 m depth (Ref. 48635).

分布於西中太平洋區，自越南至所羅門群島、帛琉等，北至日本、台灣、菲律賓，南至大堡礁。台灣南部海域有分布。

無任何經濟價值。

體狹長；體被櫛鱗；側線完全。具大犬齒和上主上頜骨；鋤骨和口蓋骨有齒；鋤骨後面有一至四較大齒，有時口蓋骨前端也有大齒；尾鰭呈叉狀。D. VI-I，9；A. II，8；P.12- 13；GR. 7-9； Ll. 27-29。。體側有8-10條窄暗褐色縱帶，全部之縱帶皆窄於淡色之縱帶間；尾柄有具一粗金黃色環之小眼斑。第一背鰭和腹鰭色暗，其它各鰭色淡呈白色，尾鰭上下緣黑色。與縱帶巨齒天竺鯛極為相似，但本種有較暗色之縱帶及較少之鰓耙。原記載之圓鰓蓋巨齒天鯛(/C. subulatus /)為本種之誤鑑。

主要棲息於礁砂混合之海域，深度可達20公尺。以小魚、甲殼類等為食。