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Cardinalfish
(Apogon imberbis)
Found in the Mediterranean and along the warm temperate and tropical eastern Atlantic coasts from Portugal South to the Gulf of Guinea.
Around 10 - 15cm (3.9 - 5.9in) long.
Feeds on small Fish, Invertebrates and Plankton.
Lives for 3 - 5 years but can reach 15 years depending on species and captivity.
Cardinalfish have a bit of a strange relationship with Ostracods. Sometimes when feeding, a Cardinalfish will accidentally eat an Ostracod. As a defensive mechanism the Ostracod glows, and since Cardinalfish are semi-transparent, it puts a huge target on its back! So the Cardinalfish ends up spitting out the Ostracod like fireworks both saving the Ostracod from being digested and itself from being a target!
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