Tailspot Cardinalfish: A Shy Spark of Orange

The tailspot cardinalfish is a small orange-red fish with a neat dark spot near its tail. Like all cardinalfish it's a shy, shadow-loving night feeder — and the males brood their eggs in their mouths. Here's how to spot one snorkeling near Jacó, plus five fun facts.

Tailspot Cardinalfish · Apogon dovii

How to spot the tailspot cardinalfish near Jacó

Scan the shaded gaps between rocks and the mouths of small crevices. The tailspot cardinalfish hovers quietly inside during the day, its warm orange color and the single dark tail spot giving it away once you look into the shade. It's small and retiring, so patience pays off.

5 fun facts about the tailspot cardinalfish

• Mouthbrooding fathers. As with other cardinalfish, the male carries the eggs in his mouth until they hatch — a remarkable bit of fish parenting.
• Named for the tail spot. A single dark spot near the base of the tail is the quickest way to put a name to this little orange fish.
• Active after dark. It rests in cover by day and comes out at night to feed on tiny shrimp and plankton, like the rest of the reef's nocturnal crowd.
• Built for low light. Its large eyes are a telltale nocturnal adaptation, helping it hunt when the reef goes dark.
• A quiet neighbor. Shy and unassuming, it keeps to the shadows, so spotting one takes a slow, careful look into the reef's hidden corners.

The tailspot cardinalfish is just one of many characters down there. See the whole cast in our Snorkel Jaco fish directory, or read real guest photos and reviews on the Snorkel Jaco reviews.