Home · Apogonidae · Majima's siphonfish
Majima's siphonfish (Siphamia majimai) — Apogonidae

Majima's siphonfish

Siphamia majimai
Family: Apogonidae

The Majima's siphonfish (Siphamia majimai) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
3.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1–18 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is., New Caledonia and others

Want the complete picture on the Majima's siphonfish?

Description

Majima's siphonfish is a cardinalfish (Apogonidae) from shallow coral-reef water around Australia and the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 4 cm and has a stocky body with large eyes and a light organ along the belly that glows from symbiotic luminous bacteria. As a social, nocturnal fish it shelters among the spines of sea urchins by day and hunts small plankton at night. The male broods the eggs in his mouth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Majima's siphonfish?

The Majima's siphonfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Majima's siphonfish live?

The Majima's siphonfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is., New Caledonia and others

How big does the Majima's siphonfish get?

The Majima's siphonfish grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Majima's siphonfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Majima's siphonfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Majima's siphonfish (Siphamia majimai) — Apogonidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Majima's siphonfish (Siphamia majimai) — Apogonidae — 3
Richard Winterbottom (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Majima's siphonfish (Siphamia majimai) — Apogonidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) tonyisaacson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Majima's siphonfish (Siphamia majimai) — Apogonidae — 5
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB

Want the complete picture on the Majima's siphonfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Majima's siphonfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Majima's siphonfish sourced
Scientific name
Siphamia majimai
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Zariba fish; Striped siphonfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Forked

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1 verified
Max depth (m)
18 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is., New Caledonia and others sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates
Territorial
No
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Siphamia

More from the family Apogonidae

Want the complete picture on the Majima's siphonfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Majima's siphonfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Is this the Majima's siphonfish?