Narrowstripe Cardinalfish

The Pristiapogon exostigma, commonly referred to as the Eyeshadow or Oneline Cardinalfish, is a small ray-finned fish belonging to the family Apogonidae, known as the cardinalfishes. This species can grow up to a maximum length of 11 cm and is characterized by a distinct light-ended black stripe, which culminates in a black spot above the center of the stripe. It inhabits a depth range of 3 to 120 meters, though it is typically found between 3 and 20 meters.

The distribution of Pristiapogon exostigma spans the Indo-Pacific region, extending from the 🌊 Red Sea to the Line Islands and Mangareva Islands, reaching southward to northern 🇦🇺 Australia and northward to the Ryukyu Islands (🇯🇵 Japan).

During daylight hours, this species seeks refuge under rock ledges and is commonly located among isolated coral heads within silty environments protected by reefs. The Eyeshadow Cardinalfish is a solitary, relatively rare, and nocturnal species that preys on fish and invertebrates. Notably, it employs a mouthbrooding reproductive strategy and forms mating pairs during courting.