Cardinalfish

This species is distinguished by having D VI-I,9; A II,8; pectoral rays 13; lateral line scales 24; predorsal scales 5; gill rakers 7 or 8+20 or 21, excluding an indistinct rudiment on upper limb; preopercular margin serrate; preopercular ridge smooth; body depth 3.4-3.7 in SL; semi-transparent in life with golden-brown midlateral strip, bordered below by narrow silver stripe; tip of lower jaw blackish (Ref. 11893).

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

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 24

Occurs in silty inshore reefs; aggregations observed hovering during the day around both soft and hard coral formations. An oral brooding male collected at Madang, papua New Guinea, contained 328 eggs, which is a relatively low number for the genus (Ref. 11893).