Siphamia cephalotes

Little siphonfish
Siphamia cephalotes
Siphamia cephalotes, Bass Strait, TAS, Photo: Graham Edgar
Siphamia cephalotes
Siphamia cephalotes, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Siphamia cephalotes
Siphamia cephalotes, Eden, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Siphamia cephalotes
Siphamia cephalotes, Melbourne, VIC, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Siphamia cephalotes
Siphamia cephalotes, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
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Siphamia cephalotes
Siphamia cephalotes
Siphamia cephalotes
Siphamia cephalotes
Siphamia cephalotes

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Although not often noticed because of its small size, this species is the most common cardinalfish along the southern coast. The species has a silver band low along the body that contains bioluminescent bacteria, and thus can emit light.


Information

Max Size: 5 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 11.1-23.2°C

Depth: 0-10 m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Common (22.9% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Many (44 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney