Striped Cardinalfish

Striped Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus compressus)

Although the maximum recorded standard length of O. compressus is 12 cm, the most common adult length is around 8.5 cm. Adults have a pinkish-white body with six brown stripes along each side, iridescent blue eye rings, and up to four brown spots on the caudal peduncle (tail base). Juveniles start with a black spot on a yellow caudal peduncle, which seems to mimic the juveniles of certain piscivorous species of Cheilodipterus.