Depth
Apogon · Bony Fish

Mediterranean Cardinalfish

Apogon imberbis

0-200m
Depth Range
Variable
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
0-200m
Depth Range
Variable
Max Size
Rocky Reef
Habitat
Carnivore
Diet
Solitary
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Very High
Sighting Likelihood
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Genus Apogon
Species imberbis

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationSmall, deep-bodied fish with very large eyes and a reddish-pink to orange body. Two separate dorsal fins. A prominent dark spot at the base of the tail. Mouth is large for the body size.
  • SizeUp to 15 cm total length, commonly 7 to 10 cm.
  • Social HabitGregarious, sheltering in loose groups inside caves, under overhangs, and in crevices during the day. Emerges at night to feed.
  • HabitatRocky reefs, caves, wrecks, and crevices. A nocturnal species that spends the day in shaded habitats.
  • Depth5 to 200 m, most common between 10 and 50 m.
  • Feeds OnZooplankton, small crustaceans, and tiny fish caught at night.
  • DistributionEastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.
  • DescriptionA beautiful little fish that glows red-orange in the beam of a dive torch. Cardinalfish cluster in the dark recesses of caves and wrecks during the day, their large eyes reflecting light dramatically. Males are mouthbrooders, incubating the egg mass in their mouth until the larvae hatch. One of the most commonly seen cave fish in the Mediterranean.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Found across the Mediterranean, inhabiting rocky reef environments. Active from the surface down to 200m depth.

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

Rocky Reef habitats, typically at depths of 0-200m. Most commonly encountered by divers at the shallower end of its range.

Encounter Tips

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

Mediterranean Cardinalfish species card

Biology

Behaviour & Diet

Feeding Strategy

Nocturnal feeder that hunts tiny crustaceans, zooplankton and fish larvae under cover of darkness.

Nocturnal hunter

Reproduction

A mouthbrooder: the male incubates the entire egg clutch in his mouth for about a week, not feeding until the larvae hatch.

Mouthbrooder

Behaviour & Defence

Hides deep inside caves, crevices and dark overhangs during the day, emerging only at night to feed.

Cave dweller

Dive with diveshack

Where to Encounter in Malta

The following dive sites offer strong habitat match for Apogon imberbis. All are accessible on a guided dive with diveshack.

5-30m
North Malta

Cirkewwa

Rocky reef with caves, arches and ledges hosting a rich diversity of reef species.

View dive site ›
5-50m
Gozo

Blue Hole

One of the Med's most famous reef dive sites. Rocky walls and archways covered in life.

View dive site ›
18-36m
South Malta

Um El Faroud

The wreck lies on a sandy bottom surrounded by rocky reef -- a diverse habitat attracting reef species.

View dive site ›
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 to prey availability.

Source: iNaturalist Guide #888
by Lesley Clements (CC BY-SA)
diveshack Mediterranean Marine Life guide