Banda Cardinalfish

Nectamia bandanensis is a species of cardinalfishes native to the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean.

Description

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8. Characterized by having dorsal fin rays VII-I, 9; anal fin rays II,8; pectoral fin rays 13; pelvic fin rays I, 5; pored lateral line scales 24; predorsal scales 3-4; circumpeduncular scales 12 (Ref. 93839); color is coppery or silvery with saddle or bar across the caudal peduncle and a wedge-shaped bar below the eye. Similar to A. fuscus but usually has fewer gill rakers (25-27 versus 28-30). Leading edge of ventral fin clearly pale-blue; characterized further by grey caudal peduncle with broad dark bar at base; pale grey at night; greatest depth of body 2.2-2.6 in SL.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Moluccas and Philippines to Samoa and Tonga, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to southern Great Barrier Reef; Mariana and Caroline Islands in Micronesia.

Habitat

Occur in outer reef slopes generally at depths below 30 m. Nocturnal species. Solitary or in small groups.