About
A silver body crossed by three bold black bars, with tiny white dots scattered over the body and fins like stars in the Milky Way, which gives it its Japanese name. Its second dorsal, anal and pelvic fins are long and trailing, and its tail is deeply forked.
It lives only around the Banggai Islands in Indonesia, gathering in small groups among sea urchins and sea anemones in shallow water. The male is known for carrying the eggs and newly hatched young in his mouth. Collection for the aquarium trade has reduced its numbers, and it is listed as endangered.
In Fish Around
It drifts along slowly and steadily, its long fins swaying as it goes.
