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Ostorhinchus compressus Blue-eye cardinalfish New Caledonia lagoon

OSTORHINCHUS COMPRESSUS - (SMITH & RADCLIFFE, 1911)

Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Kurtiformes (Order) > Apogonidae (Family) > Apogoninae (Subfamily) > Ostorhinchus (Genus)

Blue-eye cardinalfish, Blue-eyed cardinal, Blue-eye cardinalfish, Ochre-striped cardinalfish, Split-banded cardinalfish, Hira-tenjikudai, ヒラテンジクダイ, 裂帶天竺鯛,

Synonymes
Amia compressa (Smith & Radcliffe, 1911)
Apogon compressus (Smith & Radcliffe, 1911)
Apogonichthys macrophthalmus (Bleeker, 1860)

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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 9.
This species is easily recognized by its short head, large eye, deep, strongly compressed body, the number of dorsal spines and anal rays, and distinctive coloration.
Max length: 12.0 cm TL, common length: 8.5 cm TL. Depth range: 2 - 20 m.

Color
A brown-striped cardinalfish with electric blue eyes, six reddish-brown stripes along the sides, and 3-4 'spots' on the tail base. The broad stripe on the upper side is divided behind the eye. Small juveniles have a black spot in the middle of a yellow caudal peduncle.

Etymology
Ostorhinchus: from Greek, osteon = bone + from Greek, rhynchos = beak. In reference to the bony jaws, very much advanced and jagged, which take the place of the teeth.
compressus: from Latin, compressus = narrow. Its body is rather flat and less high than other Apogonidae.
Original description: Amia compressa (Smith & Radcliffe, 1911) - Type locality: Bisucay Island, Cuyos Islands, Philippines - Taken with dynamite April 9, 1909.

Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Andaman Sea east to Philippines and New Guinea, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to northern Australia and New Caledonia.

Biology
Apogon compressus often hides among branching stony corals during the day. This fish is nocturnal and leaves its shelter at night to feed on zooplankton. It is often found in small aggregations among or near mounds of branching corals such as Porites cylindrica (Dana, 1846) or Porites nigrescens (Dana, 1848). Aquarium fish, has been reared in captivity. Mouthbrooders. Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning.

Similar species
Small juveniles have yellow caudal peduncle with black spot in centre, mimicking the large-toothed Cheilodipterus species. That enables them to swim about more freely.