Scientific Name
Sphaeramia orbicularis  
Pronounce  
Sphaeramia orbicularis環紋圓天竺鯛
by: Lab of Fish Ecol. and Evo., BRCAS
Author (Cuvier, 1828) Depth 0 - 5M
Chinese 環紋圓天竺鯛 Poisonous Fish No 
Family_Chinese 天竺鯛科 Economic Fish No 
Family F352 Apogonidae Edible Fish Yes  Chinese In Mainland China 紅尾圓竺鯛 
Max Length 10 cm  Aquarium Fish No  Common Name 大面側仔、大目側仔 
Distribution in World India Ocean to Pacific Ocean   Distribution in Taiwan South 
Habitats Coral、Coastal、Lagoon  Holotype Locality Java, Indonesia. 
Synonyms Apogon orbicularis   
Reference 臺灣魚類誌(沈等, 1993);Fishbase(2006);Shao, K. T., and J. P. Chen (1986) The New Records of Cardinalfishes from Taiwan, with a Synopsis of the Family Apogonidae. Journ. Taiwan Museum, 39(2):61-104;Randall, J. E., G. R. Allen and R. C. Steene (1990) Fishes of the  Cuvier, G. etc. 1828 Allen, G. R. 1975 Allen, G. R. 1975 Shao, K.T. etc. 1986 Randall, J. E., G. R. Allen etc. 1990 沈世傑 編 Shih-Chieh Shen ed. 1993 Mabuchi, K. , T. H. Fraser, H. Song, Y. Azuma etc. 2014 
Specimen List ASIZP0055924. ASIZP0058558. FRIP21114. FRIP21421.  
Common Name Orbiculate cardinalfish; Polka-dot cardinalfish; Chubby cardinal 
Redlist Status NL Not in IUCN Redlist     
Characteristic Dorsal-fin rays VI-I, 9; anal-fin rays II, 9; pectoral-fin rays 12. Body high and compressed. Maxillary extending to below the middle of eye. Villiform teeth in jaws; fewer or none on vomer and palatines. Two scale rows on cheek. First dorsal spine minute and the second the longest. Caudal shallowly forked. Lateral line complete. Color in formalin brown-yellow; a transverse black oblique band of the width about pupil size from origin of first dorsal to the anus. Several pupil sized black spots scattered behind the bar. Caudal base with five or six similar sized spots arranged in an arch like. Fins generally brownish; pelvic fins darker than the other fins; a dusky line at the bases of second dorsal and anal fins.
habitats Restricted to coastal waters, forming small aggregations among mangroves, rocks, debris, or piers of shallow sheltered shorelines. Feeds at night (early evening and just before day break), primarily on planktonic crustaceans. Courtship and spawning occur  
Distribution Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Kiribati, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia; Belau to eastern Caroline and Mariana Islands in Micronesia. 
Utility No commercial value.