Two-Line Cardinalfish

Appearance

This small cardinalfish is characterized by a transparent body with 2 black stripes, shiny abdomen, and a black dot with a yellow border on the caudal peduncle. Size 3.8-5 cm.

Naming

Etymology: Taeniamia: Name from feminine Latin noun 'taenia' meaning ribbon or band; and feminine Greek noun 'Amia' meaning a fish, often used with cardinalfishes genera. Here as Taeniamia referring to the vertical wide bars and near vertical to curved narrow bars as lines on most of the species in this genus.; bilineata: From the Latin bi meaning two, and lineata meaning lines, in reference to its two dark stripes on the body.

Distribution

Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea.

Habitat

It is generally found in small groups, at the base of coral mounds on a sandy bottom. Depth 1-15 m.

Reproduction

Reproduction: Gonochorism, there are males and females. Pair formation during courtship and spawning. The female lays a cluster of clumped eggs, which the male fertilizes. The incubation of the eggs lasts a week and takes place inside the oral cavity of the male, hatching after a week. The male fasts during that week.

Food

It feeds on plankton.