Cheilodipterus arabicus is a species of ray-finned fish from the cardinalfish family Apogonidae.[1] It is found in the western Indian Ocean in the following countries, Tanzania, Seychelles, and India where they are relatively common,[2] the species is also found in the Red Sea,[3] where it occurs in small shoals living in association with reefs. It is characterized by pale brown color with 13-16 dark brown stripes. [4]