Teleostei (teleosts) >
Kurtiformes (Nurseryfishes, cardinalfishes.) >
Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes) > Apogoninae
Etymology: Siphamia: A Swazi word, siphama, for a fish.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 18 m (Ref. 90102). Subtropical
Western Pacific: from the Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands of Japan to northwestern Australia and Queensland. Also recorded from Tonga (Ref. 90102).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27362)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 7;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 9-10;
Anal
spines: 2;
Anal
soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: dorsal fin rays VI-I, 9; anal fin rays II, 8; pectoral fin rays 15; pelvic fin rays I, 5; pored lateral line scales 23; predorsal scales 6; circumpeduncular scales 12; total gill rakers 13-14, developed gill rakers 7-8 (Ref. 093839); body uniformly black and all fins pinkish except for pectoral. Head large. Similar to S. versicolor, but distinguished by 6 spines on the first dorsal (7 in S. versicolor). Body and weakly ctenoid scales covered with a mucous membrane. A luminous organ is present inside the translucent thorax muscles, containing symbiotic luminescent bacteria.
Commensal with sea urchins and crown of thorns starfish (Ref. 27362). Occurs in small groups, also found in sheltered reefs and adjacent sand, rubble and rocky bottoms (Ref 90102).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning (Ref. 205).
Gon, O. and G.R. Allen, 2012. Revision of the Indo-Pacific cardinalfish genus Siphamia (Perciformes: Apogonidae). Zootaxa 3294:1-84. (Ref. 90035)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 126983)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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