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Wedgehead siphonfish (Siphamia cuneiceps) — Apogonidae

Wedgehead siphonfish

Siphamia cuneiceps
Family: Apogonidae

The Wedgehead siphonfish (Siphamia cuneiceps) is a saltwater fish of the family Apogonidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1–28 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia

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Description

The Wedgehead siphonfish is a small light cardinalfish (Apogonidae) from shallow reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 4 cm and has a stocky, semi-translucent body and carries luminous bacteria in the belly that give a soft glow. As a shy, nocturnal fish it shelters by day among the spines of sea urchins and in coral crevices and hunts small zooplankton at night. The male broods the eggs in his mouth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Wedgehead siphonfish?

The Wedgehead siphonfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Wedgehead siphonfish live?

The Wedgehead siphonfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia

How big does the Wedgehead siphonfish get?

The Wedgehead siphonfish grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Wedgehead siphonfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Wedgehead 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

Wedgehead siphonfish (Siphamia cuneiceps) — Apogonidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) J. Martin Crossley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Wedgehead siphonfish (Siphamia cuneiceps) — Apogonidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) J. Martin Crossley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Wedgehead siphonfish (Siphamia cuneiceps) — Apogonidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) henrycarrick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Wedgehead siphonfish (Siphamia cuneiceps) — Apogonidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) J. Martin Crossley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))

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All data

Identification

English name
Wedgehead siphonfish sourced
Scientific name
Siphamia cuneiceps
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Wedgehead siphonfish; Siphon fish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1 sourced
Max depth (m)
28 sourced
Natural range
Oceania: Australia 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

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