Maximum length: 9 cm

Depth: 1 - 50 m

2 horizontal stripes from the dorsal to the caudal fin.

Salmon to pink or bronze to deep orange-red.

They hide in dark niches during the day and look for food at night.

Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 6.5 cm

Depth: 5 - 70 m

The bright signal spot behind the black spot on the back of the dorsal fin

represents the naming of this cardinalfish's English name, Whitestar cardinalfish.

Body reddish with large dark eyes that stand out.

Because he swims in small reef caves during the day to protect himself from predators,

this little guy is difficult to photograph.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 11 cm

Depth: 1 - 20 m

Two white longitudinal stripes in the eyes.

Salmon-colored to bright red body with a black spot below the rear dorsal fin.

Fading black transverse band at the base of the tail.

Photos 1 - 2 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 7.5 cm

Depth: 3 - 50 m

Elongated orange body with 2 slightly wider black bands,

like the almost identical looking two-banded cardinalfish,

silver colored at the end of the body up to the tail fin, short snout, large eyes.

Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 10 cm

Depth: 3 - 35 m

Body: Pale pink with a dark transverse stripe from the dorsal fin to the belly

and a transverse stripe at the base of the tail.

Hides in dark niches, searching for food in open water at night.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 4 - 6 cm

Depth: 2 - 60 m

Dark transverse band from the posterior dorsal fin to the anal fin.

Two horizontal stripes on the base of the tail.

Hidden in caves during the day.

Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 15 cm

Depth: 1 - 20 m

It has narrow, dark stripes of varying widths and a dark spot on the base of the tail.

Inhabits sheltered outer reefs and murky lagoons.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 10 cm

Depth: 3 - 40 m

It has 5 black longitudinal stripes and a yellow tail base.

Always hide near crevices, branch corals and caves.

Found in lagoons and outer reefs.

Photo 1 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi

Photo 2 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines

Maximum length: 25 cm

Depth: 5 - 40 m

Broad, brown stripes and a light tail.

Found in coral-rich lagoons and on outer reefs, where it feeds primarily on small fish.

Little shy.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 12 cm

Depth: 3 - 40 m

5 black side stripes and yellow spot at the base of the tail.

Photo 1 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines

Maximum length: 10 cm

Depth: 3 - 30 m

Caudal fin edges, soft yellowish dorsal and anal fin tips.

Distinct banding in adults.

Photo 1 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 10 cm

Depth: 1 - 15 m

Body: Pearl gray with eye stripes and dark bands on the base of the tail.

Native to protected outer reefs and silted lagoons.

Almost always hidden during the day, hunting at night.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 8 cm

Depth: 1 - 20 m

Dark stripe under the eye and a black band on the base of the tail.

Very difficult to find under ledges or in crevices during the day,

slightly more common at night.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 12 cm

Depth: 2 - 20 m

Dotted back line.

Blue incomplete eye ring.

Usually in groups in front of caves or branch corals.

Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi

Photo 2 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 9 cm

Depth: 1 - 20 m

Orange-yellow markings on the gill covers, dark spot on the base of the tail.

During the day often in small groups in front of branch corals.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 8 cm

Depth: 1 - 50 m

White - silvery stripes on the head and body.

Very similar to the chinstripe cardinalfish. (see some species below)

Photo 1 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi

Photo 2 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines

Maximum length: 11 cm

Depth: 2 - 20 m

It has a black spot on the base of its pale tail and fine eye and dorsal stripes.

Photo 1 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 9 cm

Maximum depth: 2 - 18 m

This species can be easily recognized by the white dot on the rear dorsal fin.

Travel individually or in pairs.

Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 10 cm

Depth: 2 - 25 m

Likes to stay in stony corals where it can hide between the branches.

Mostly found in small groups.

Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 10 cm

Depth: 3 - 40 m

It can be found singly or in pairs under ledges, in crevices, even in shallow lagoon reefs.

It feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates at night.

Photo 1 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines

Photo 2 Johnny: El Quesir Egypt

Maximum length: 8 cm

Depth: 2 - 20 m

Orange-yellow with silvery light gray side stripes.

Very similar to the golden stripe cardinalfish (see photo slightly higher)

Photo 1 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 10 cm

Depth: 15 - 100 m

Salmon-colored to pink.

Loves deep reefs and rocky areas where it hides during the day.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 9 cm

Maximum depth: 0 - 45 m

Dark speckled bronze to salmon colored body.

Single dark transverse band at the base of the tail.

Hiding in deep caves during the day, hovering over the reef at night,

often near open giant basket stars.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean 

Maximum length: 11 cm

Depth: 2 - 60 m

Silvery body with dark side stripes and a dark spot at the base of the tail.

Found in lagoons and outer reefs, under ledges and crevices during the day.

Night hunter for zooplankton.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 10 cm

Depth: 3 - 50 m

During the day they hide individually or in groups in niches and under overhangs.

There is a dark stripe on the body that extends from the snout to the caudal fin and ends in a point.

Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 15 cm

Depth: 1 - 45 m

First dorsal fin yellowish with variable dark lateral stripes.

Lives on outer reefs and in clear lagoons.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 15 cm

Depth: 2 - 15 m

This perch has three short, irregular saddle spots on the back and a black spot on the gill cover.

Found singly or in pairs in lagoons and outer reefs. 

Photo 1 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 7 cm

Depth: 0 - 9 m

They are uniquely colored.

They are often found together with long-spined sea urchins,

where they stay between the spines for protection.

Does not incubate the eggs in its mouth like the other cardinalfish,

but protects the hatchlings in its mouth for a few days.

Juveline often associated with anemones.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 8.5 cm

Depth: 3 - 25 m

Found in small to very large groups in branching corals.

Often in lagoons.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 8 cm

Depth: 3 - 35 m

Has about 23 orange horizontal lines and a black tail spot.

Found in outer reefs and lagoons, not very shy.

Small, dense aggregations can be found between rocks and branch corals.

Hunts zooplankton at night.

Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt