English Name: Gelatinous cardinalfish
Family: APOGONIDAE
Local Name: IloIhi boadhi
Order: Perciformes
Size: Common to6cm; max. 10cm
Specimen: MRS/0074/86
Distinctive Characters: First dorsal fin with 6 spines, seconddorsal fin with 1 spine and 8 rays. Anal fin with 2 spines and 8-9 rays. Pectoral fin with 15-17 (usually 16) rays. Body depth 4.0-4.8 in standard length. Body elongate, caudal fin large and rounded. Juveniles with strong triangular spinules around angle of preopercle that becomes undulate to smooth in adults.
Colour: Translucent with light golden to silvery sheen, numerous tiny black spots arranged in longitudinal rows. Caudal fin blackish. Habitat and Biology: Usually found in caves, hence is seldom seen by day. Found in deep coral thickets to depth of 40 m, usually in sheltered areas.
Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
Remarks: Pseudamia ge/atinosa may be common in the Maldives, but its cryptic habits mean that it is almost never seen. Not found in daytime livebait catches.