Neamia articycla Fraser & Allen, 2006
Circular cardinalfish
photo by Williams, J.T.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  3.55 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 8 - 40 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Fiji.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8; Vertebrae: 24-24. This species is distinguished by the following characters: 7 visible first-dorsal spines, the 8th spine hidden by skin; darkish circular spot on the opercle, below opercular spine within a pale area; color in life, uniformly reddish to brownish body, all fins pale; pectoral rays 13-14; predorsal scales 5; eye diameter 10-12% of SL; pectoral fin 25-31% of SL; body depth 37-40% of SL (Ref. 77037).
Biology:  A cryptic species seldom observed by divers, but are collected with ichthyocides, dredges and sleds. Its collection data suggests that it frequents 10-40 m depth zone, in association with beds of a calcareous algae, Halimeda or calcareous rubble, sometimes mixed with the pocilloporid coral Seriatopora hystrix (Ref. 77037).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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