Scientific Name
Archamia zosterophora
Common Name
Blackbelted cardinalfish
Biology
Dorsal
spines
(total): 7;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 9;
Anal
spines: 2;
Anal
soft rays: 14 - 16. Diagnosis: Rays: dorsal VI + I,9; anal II,14-16 (rarely 13 or 17); pectoral rays 13-14 (rarely 12). Gill rakers 5-7 + 14-17 (total, 19-23). Lateral-line scales 25+3-4 (rarely 27 or 30). Median predorsal scales 6-7 (rarely 5). Body depth 2.5-2.8 in SL; body width 2.3-2.65 in body depth; eye diameter 2.7-3.2 in head length; first dorsal spine 1.5-1.9 in second spine; second dorsal spine 2.35-3.0, and third dorsal spine 2.35-3.1 in head length; spine of second dorsal fin 2.2-2.6, and second anal spine 2.5-3.1 in head length; pelvic-fin length 4.5-5.1; caudal-peduncle length 4.5-5.4 in SL. Distance from insertion of pelvic spine to anal-fin origin 4.1-5.5 in SL Preopercular edge serrate. Scaly sheath along anal-fin base moderately developed (Ref. 54391).
Some geographical variations. Usually a black band below second dorsal fin, but highly variable in width and may fade