Red Sea Nymph Cardinalfish

The 🌊 Red Sea Nymph Cardinalfish (Cercamia spio) is a tropical, marine species associated with reef environments at a depth range of 10 to 30 meters. First described in 2018, this species exhibits a body length of approximately 3.2 cm. It is characterized by a translucent appearance with reddish spots and a blackish abdominal area. This nocturnal fish is typically found near caves.

Observational data indicate that while a solitary individual was noted near Dahab, a larger congregation was collected from a cave in Obhur, Jeddah, which suggests that Cercamia spio likely inhabits crevices in small groups. The species is endemic to the 🌊 Red Sea, specifically within the coastal regions of 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and 🇪🇬 Egypt.

The name 'Cercamia' derives from the Greek words 'kerkos' (tail) and 'amia' (a kind of fish), while 'spio' is named after Spio, a mythological sea nymph from Greek mythology, known as a daughter of Nereus and Doris, and specifically associated with sea caves.