Depth
Capros · Bony Fish

Boarfish

Capros aper

40-700m
Depth Range
30cm
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
40-700m
Depth Range
30cm
Max Size
Rocky reef
Habitat
Planktivore
Diet
Schooling
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Rare
Sighting Likelihood
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Genus Capros
Species aper

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationSmall, deep-bodied, laterally compressed fish with a steeply sloping forehead and a small, protrusible mouth. Orange-red body with darker vertical bars. Large eyes.
  • SizeUp to 23 cm total length, commonly 10 to 15 cm.
  • Social HabitSchooling species that forms aggregations in midwater over rocky seabeds and along drop-offs.
  • HabitatRocky reefs, boulder fields, and steep walls. Often seen hovering in midwater near vertical terrain.
  • Depth40 to 700 m, most common between 50 and 300 m.
  • Feeds OnZooplankton and small crustaceans picked from the water column with its protrusible mouth.
  • DistributionEastern Atlantic from Norway to Senegal, including the Mediterranean Sea.
  • DescriptionA distinctive little fish with a compressed, disc-like body and vivid orange colouration. Boarfish are primarily found at depths beyond recreational limits, though they occasionally appear on deeper dives. In recent decades, their range has expanded northward, possibly linked to warming seas.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Inhabits rocky reefs, offshore banks and the edges of continental shelves at depths from 40 to 700 metres. In Mediterranean waters, schools are most commonly found around rocky outcrops and underwater ridges with moderate current.

Where Malta divers have spotted this species

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Sightings are logged by divers using our What Did You See? dive-log tool. View the full live sightings map.

Detail

Preferred Environment

Prefers deep rocky habitats with good water flow that carries planktonic food. Often aggregates around seamounts, wrecks and rocky pinnacles in the open sea.

Encounter Tips

Best approached slowly and calmly. Avoid casting shadows directly over the animal. Neutral buoyancy and patience increase encounter success significantly.

Boarfish species card

Biology

Behaviour & Diet

Feeding Strategy

Feeds primarily on zooplankton and small crustaceans, using its small protrusible mouth to pick individual prey items from the water column.

Plankton Feeder

Reproduction

Spawns during summer months, releasing buoyant eggs into the water column. Larvae are pelagic and may drift for several weeks before settling to deeper habitats.

Pelagic Eggs

Behaviour & Defence

Schools tightly when threatened, creating visual confusion for predators. The laterally compressed body and erect dorsal spines make it difficult for larger fish to swallow.

Schooling Defence

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Where to Encounter in Malta

Dive sites where Capros aper may be encountered will be added as sighting data is collected.

IUCN Red List Least Concern

Conservation Status

This species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Mediterranean populations face ongoing pressure from fishing activity, habitat degradation, and climate-driven changes.

Source: IUCN Red List
diveshack Mediterranean Marine Life guide