TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes)
Genus/species: Sphaeramia nematoptera
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The head is yellow with a wide black band encircling the central body. Eyes are large and red. The back half of the body has spots.
Length up to 8.5 cm (3.3 in)
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: S. nematoptera is found in the Indian and western Pacific oceans often in reef areas of bays and lagoons along with other members of their species, sheltered among branches of Porites spp.
DIET IN THE WILD: The Pajama Cardinalfish feeds on small fish and crustaceans. At night, it leaves the protection of coral shelter to feed along the bottom at about 15 m (50 feet) deep.
REMARKS: Note the large eyes, a common feature of nocturnal fishes that allows them to gather low light images. They are nocturnal and shelter during the day.
References
California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016
Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/4676390664/in/album-72157625992053826/
fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Sphaeramia-nematoptera.html
Ron’s WordPress shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1ga
Ron's Critter of the Day 