Banggai Cardinalfish

The Banggai Cardinalfish is a striking small fish with bold vertical stripes and elongated dorsal fin rays that trail behind like streamers. It inhabits shallow coral and seagrass areas around 5–15 metres, where it hovers near shelter and darts away when threatened. Highly endemic to Indonesia's Banggai Islands, this species is popular in the aquarium trade and faces conservation concern from wild collection. Divers will typically spot it in small groups among branching corals or seagrass beds, where its striking pattern and cautious behaviour make it unmistakable.