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ALEXANDRE MEINESZ

Cardinalfish

In Dive.Explo360: Mediterranean

Beneath an overhang or at a cave entrance, cardinalfish often appear in tightly packed shoals. Their brilliant colour contrasts with the shadows of rocky seabeds. At night, they leave their refuge to catch small prey, while males may incubate eggs in their mouths.

Habitat de Cardinalfish Habitat
Wreck, Rocky habitat
Profondeur de Cardinalfish Depth
5-50 m
Groupe biologique de Cardinalfish Group
Demersal fish
Rôle écologique de Cardinalfish Role
Predator

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

This small fish is recognisable by its red to orange colour and large eyes adapted to dim light. Its body is quite stocky and it rarely exceeds around ten centimetres in length.It sometimes has a small dark spot at the base of the tail. Its head is smooth, with no visible scales, a characteristic feature of the species.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

It lives in rocky areas, often sheltered from light, such as caves, crevices or beneath overhangs.It occurs in groups, generally from a few metres down to around fifty metres deep, sometimes deeper.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

Mainly active at night, it feeds on small prey, such as zooplankton and small crustaceans, which it captures in open water.

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