Siphamia majimai Matsubara & Iwai, 1958
Striped siphonfish
photo by Allen, G.R.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  3.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 18 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: from the Ryukyu and Ogasawara islands of Japan to northwestern Australia and Queensland. Also recorded from Tonga (Ref. 90102).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8. 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.
Biology:  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).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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