Banggai Cardinalfish Identification Guide
Identify the Banggai Cardinalfish by its black-and-silver stripes, white spots, and long trailing fins.
Read the full Banggai Cardinalfish encyclopedia entry →
Key identification features
- Laterally flattened, silvery body with three bold black vertical bars: one through the eye, one mid-body, one at the base of the tail
- Scattered white spots across the body, second dorsal fin, anal fin, and tail lobes
- Dramatically elongated second dorsal fin, anal fin, and pelvic fins that trail behind the body
- Deeply forked tail with two long, pointed lobes
- Large, prominent eyes typical of cardinalfishes
- Grows to about 3 inches (8 cm)
Common look-alikes
- Pajama Cardinalfish: also patterned, but shows a yellow-brown head, a dark saddle patch, and red spots on the rear body instead of vertical bars and white dots
- Threadfin Cardinalfish: has elongated fins too, but lacks the three black bars and white spotting unique to the Banggai
Where you'll see one
Banggai Cardinalfish are native to a small area around the Banggai Archipelago in Indonesia, where they shelter among the spines of sea urchins, branching corals, and anemones in shallow, calm lagoon waters.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a Banggai Cardinalfish from a Pajama Cardinalfish?
Banggai Cardinalfish show three black vertical bars and white spots on silver fins, while Pajama Cardinalfish have a dark saddle patch and red spots instead of bars.
What fin shape confirms a Banggai Cardinalfish?
Look for the unusually long, trailing second dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins combined with a deeply forked tail with elongated lobes.