Description:

Dorsal spines: 8; Dorsal soft rays: 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays 8

Small, moderately full-bodied cardinalfish with long, broad caudal peduncle. Proportionately large eyes. 

Colour. Base colour bluish silver with 6 orange yellow stripes on side of body. Post ocular stripe is shorter than others. Another short mid-dorsal stripe
from interorbital space to origin of dorsal fin. Snout and interorbital space frequently dark. Midlateral stripe may terminate in orange spot at caudal 
fin base. Fins with orange hue. Pelvic fin with narrow pale leading edge.

Maturity: Unknown. Max length: 8.0 cm TL.
 

Inhabits a variety of habitats (depth 0-40 m), including coral heads of sheltered coastal and lagoon reefs, seagrass beds and rock with caves and ledges 
for hiding during the day. Usually seen in small, oftem mixed species, aggregations under ledges or at the entrance to holes and caves. Smaller individuals 
sometimes shelter among the spines of sea-urchins of the genus Diadema. Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning. Exhibits mouth brooding.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not subject to the artisanal fishery. 
 

Allen, G. et al. (2015). Ostorhinchus cyanosoma. The IUCN Red List 2015: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/193351/56994500#habitat-ecology (01/09/22).
Bray, D.J. (2020). Ostorhinchus cyanosoma in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3249 (23/08/22). 
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/4600 (01/09/22).
Gon, O. & Randall, J.E. (2003). A review of the cardinalfishes (Perciformes: Apogonidae) of the Red Sea. Smithiana Bulletin 1: 1-47. 
Mason-Parker, C. et al. (2021) Ostorhincus cyanosoma in Reef Fishes of Seychelles. John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd, UK.

Mason-Parker, C. & Nevill, J.E.G. (2022). Ostorhinchus cyanosoma, Yellowstriped cardinalfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/ostorhinchus-cyanosoma-bleeker-1853/