Black Striped Cardinalfish

Characterized by having dorsal fin rays VII-I, 9; anal fin rays II,8; pectoral fin rays 14; pelvic fin rays I, 5; pored lateral line scales 24; predorsal scales 4; circumpeduncular scales 12; total gill rakers 24, developed gill rakers 18; snout pointed; body white in color (Ref. 93839). Further characterized by alternating black and yellow stripes, dark stripes wider; greatest depth of body 2.6-3.1 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Mouthbrooders (Ref. 240). Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 8

Nocturnal species (Ref. 75154) which is found in caves or other projections in the vicinity of coral reefs (Ref. 9137, 58534). Exhibits the black gut phenomenon. In nocturnal predators, it appears to serve to conceal bioluminiscent prey in the stomach cavity (Ref. 46685).

Occurs on reef flats and shallow lagoon reef, usually seen singly or in pairs under ledges or in crevices. Feed on small benthic invertebrates at night (Ref. 2141).

分布於印度-太平洋區，印度洋僅發現於紅海及聖誕島，而太平洋區域則東至土木土群島，北至台灣、日本，南迄新加勒多尼亞及拉帕等。台灣分布於南部、小琉球、綠島及蘭嶼等。

通常以下雜魚處理，用作魚飼料，有時會曬成小魚乾自家食用，並無任何經濟價值。

體長圓而側扁。頭大。吻長。眼大。D. VII-I，9；A. II，8；P. 14/14；GR. 2.14+1+3，3；HL. 2.61；BD. 2.69 in SL； SnL. 3.93；ED. 3.22 in HL。體淡色，體側中央具三條主要的暗色至黑色水平寬帶，其寬度較兩眼間距為寬，且遠寬於體側白色縱斑，三條暗色寬帶一致以一黑圓斑結束於尾柄，尤以中央之寬帶為明顯；另背部和腹部亦有水平窄帶，唯腹部的一條較不明顯。第一背鰭色較暗，第二背鰭和臀鰭各有一條顏色極深之帶平行鰭基底，其餘各鰭色淡。

主要棲息於淺潟湖礁區或沿岸礁盤區。獨居或成對生活，以多毛類和其它小型底棲無脊椎動物為食。

The blackstripe cardinalfish, Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus, is a cardinalfish from the Indo-Pacific. A yellow-black striped fish, it occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to 10 cm in length.