Iridescent cardinalfish
(Pristiapogon kallopterus)
Image source: Jo's Animal Database
General data
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Algoa Bay, South Africa and east to the Line, Marquesan, and Pitcairn islands, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to New Zealand and Rapa.
Max length: 15.5 cm TL
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8.
Tan to light red brown in color, dusky scale margins; a brown mid-lateral stripe from tip of snout, through eye to upper caudal base (stripe may fade on peduncle); black spot at base of caudal fin. Further characterized by relatively broad midlateral dark stripe; yellow anterior margin on dorsal fin; green to blue iridescent shades on body when viewed with light at night; juvenile with yellowish head and belly.
Occurs in clear water lagoon patch reefs and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone to a depth of 45 m.
Feeds at night on small benthic and free-swimming crustaceans.
