Cardinal Soldierfish

Small, chunky squirrelfish without a preopercular spine. Circumorbital bones have slender spines, those below eye forward-pointing (Ref. 26938). Body brilliant orangish red, fins somewhat paler. Spines near angle of preopercle somewhat enlarged. Soft dorsal, caudal and anal fins unscaled, their lobes broadly rounded (Ref. 7251).

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Analspines: 4; Analsoft rays: 11

Remains in deep recesses during the day. Rarely seen (Ref. 9710). Found in holes and caves in coral reefs (Ref. 26938).

fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial