Tubemouth

Tubemouth
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Labridae
Subfamily: Hypsigenyinae
Genus: Siphonognathus
Richardson, 1858
Species:
S. argyrophanes
Binomial name
Siphonognathus argyrophanes
Richardson, 1858

The tubemouth (Siphonognathus argyrophanes) is a species of ray-finned fish, a weed whiting from the family Odacidae. It is endemic to the southern coasts of Australia.

Description

The tubemouth has an elongated, needle-like body. The long-based dorsal fin is low and the shorter anal fin sits below the posterior third of the dorsal fin. It lacks pelvic fins.

It's very unique in its form that it was considered that this Siphonognathus was once described as a cornetfish.

Distribution

The tubemouth is endemic to southern Australia where it can be found from Geraldton in Western Australia southwards and then along the southern coast of Australia to the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria and Tasmania.

Habitat and biology

The tubemouth occurs in sheltered areas where there is a dense growth of posidonias.

References

  1. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Siphonognathus argyrophanes" in FishBase. April 2006 version.
  1. Russell, B.; Clements, K.D.; Choat, J.H.; et al. (2012). "Siphonognathus argyrophanes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T190681A17774809. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190681A17774809.en. Retrieved 6 July 2022.