Least Concern· population stable· assessed 2015

Cardinal Fish

Apogon imberbis

Sighting evidence at Filicudi Wall, Aeolian Islands

Cardinal fish hover in small groups within the deeper overhangs and cave entrances along Filicudi's wall, their transparent red bodies almost glowing under torchlight in the shadowed recesses. These small nocturnal fish are mouthbrooders — males carry fertilised eggs in their mouths until hatching — and their cave-dwelling behaviour makes them emblematic of the cryptic life that thrives in Filicudi's less-visited walls. They emerge at night to feed on plankton in the water column, returning to their sheltered ledges before dawn.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Cardinal Fish is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Also seen at other sites

Grotta Azzurra→