Spurcheek Cardinalfish

Pristiapogon fraenatus is a spacies of cardinalfishes native to the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Description

Body color is clear to pink translucent with a single black stripe that tapers from eye to mid tail base, often bordered with pale iridescent white or blue. Black spot at centre of tail base, level with end of stripe. P. exostigma has black spot slightly above centre of tail base and end of stripe. Leading edge of first dorsal fin blackish.

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8. A small to near pupil-sized basicaudal spot is centered at the level of the lateral stripe. Its lower edge at level with the lower ray of the central two rays in the caudal fin. The spot is usually absent in deep water or at night and often fades in the afternoon.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Durban, South Africa and to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to New South Wales, Australia.

Habitat

Found in relatively clear waters on reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of at least 25 m. Cryptic under ledges by day, singly or in small groups. Feeds on small invertebrates .