Onespot Cardinalfish

The Onespot Cardinalfish (Rhabdamia spilota) is a tropical marine species, notable for inhabiting depths ranging from 20 to 55 meters. The genus name, Rhabdamia, is derived from the Greek words 'rhabdos', meaning stick, and 'amia', referring to a kind of shark. The species name, spilota, originates from the Greek term for 'spot', highlighting the unique spot located above the pectoral fin.

This fish is characterized by its elongated, semi-transparent, whitish body, which in life displays three to four small dark spots located mid-laterally on the operculum and above the base of its pectoral fin. The Onespot Cardinalfish reaches a maximum length of approximately 6 centimeters.

Typically, these fish are observed swimming in tight pairs and can often be found in large aggregations near rocky outcrops featuring gorgonian fans and crinoids on steep slopes. During the day, they actively swim above isolated coral heads to feed on zooplankton. Notably, this species demonstrates distinct pairing behavior during courtship and spawning.

Geographically, the Onespot Cardinalfish is distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific region, including the 🌊 Red Sea and 🇮🇩 Indonesia.