Cardinal fish (Apogon imberbis)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Apogon imberbis
- Common name
- Cardinal fish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Apogonidae
- Genus
- Apogon
- Size
- 8–15 cm
- Depth
- 3–200 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky, cave
- Behaviours
- schooling, nocturnal, mouth-brooding
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Apogon imberbis reaches 15 cm. Vivid red-orange body with large black eyes, two dark spots on the caudal peduncle. Lives in small schools in caves and coralligenous overhangs, from 3 to 200 m. Nocturnal. Remarkable behavior: males incubate eggs in the mouth until hatching, not feeding during that time. Striking color on cave dives, an iconic photo subject.
Photo of Cardinal fish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Cardinal fish?
- Cardinal fish (Apogon imberbis) reaches 8–15 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Cardinal fish?
- Cardinal fish is found between 3–200 m deep.
- Is the Cardinal fish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Cardinal fish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Cardinal fish?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Apogon
- Apogon kiensis - Rifle cardinalfish
- Apogon binotatus - Bigeye Cardinalfish
- Apogon townsendi - Townsend's Cardinalfish
- Apogon ocellatus - Ocellated Cardinalfish
- Apogon nigrofasciatus - Blackstriped Cardinalfish
Other species in the family Apogonidae
- Pterapogon kauderni - Banggai cardinalfish
- Sphaeramia nematoptera - Pajama cardinalfish
- Zoramia leptacantha - Threadfin cardinalfish
- Ostorhinchus cyanosoma - Yellowstriped cardinalfish
- Ostorhinchus compressus - Ochre-striped cardinalfish
- Apogonichthyoides melas - Black cardinalfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 273021)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5211775)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia