Black Cardinalfish juvenile (Apogonichthyoides melas)

A dark brown cardinalfish with tall rounded second dorsal and anal fins, broad rounded caudal-fin lobes, a black ocellus on the second dorsal-fin base, a narrow diagonal bar across the cheek, and often three or four indistinct broad dark bars on the body and caudal peduncle (noticeable at night). Max length : 10.0 cm

Found in shallow well protected coastal bays, commonly found under jetties, hiding in dark areas ; also in inshore rocky areas and among branching coral.

Mouthbrooders... more