Peeper Cardinalfish, Neamia articycla (Fraser & Allen, 2006)
Introduction
The Peeper Cardinalfish lives at depths between 10 m and 40 m, in association with the calcareous alga Halimeda, or calcareous rubble. Australian Museum specimens were used in its scientific descripton.
Identification
The Peeper Cardinalfish has seven visible dorsal fin spines and an eighth hidden by skin. In life the species is reddish to brownish. There is a circular spot on the operculum enclosed within a pale area.
Habitat
The species lives at depths between 10 m and 40 m, in association with the calcareous alga Halimeda, or calcareous rubble. It has also been collected in association with the pocilloporid coral Seriatopora hystrix.
Distribution
The Peeper Cardinalfish occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific, from Sumatra to Fiji and the Philippines south to eastern Australia.
In Australia it is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef lagoon between Lizard Island and the outer Barrier Reef.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- Fraser, T.H. & G.R. Allen, 2006. A new species of Neamia (Perciformes: Apogonidae) from the West Pacific Ocean. Memoirs of the Museum Victoria.