Siphamia cyanophthalma Gon & Allen, 2012
Blue-eye siphonfish
Siphamia cyanophthalma
photo by Allen, G.R.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  2.18 cm SL (female)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range - 31 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: the Philippines, eastern Indonesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea and offshore reefs of northwestern Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 7-8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VII+I,9; A II,7-8; pectoral rays 12; tubed lateral-line scales 4-8; median predorsal scales 4-5; total gill rakers 3-4 + 9-10; developed gill rakers 1 + 6-9; gill rakers on ceratobranchial 6-7; body depth 2.25-2.6 in SL and body width 2.4-3.1 in the depth; eye diameter 2.65-3.3 in head length (HL); first dorsal spine very small 10.25-14.5 in second spine (two specimens); second dorsal spine 4.7-5.1, spine of second dorsal fin 4.1-5.2, and second anal spine 4.6-5.1, all in HL; pectoral-fin length 4.2-4.5 and pelvic-fin length 4.8-5.0 in SL; caudal-peduncle length 1.0-1.4 in distance between pelvic spine insertion and anal-fin origin; preopercular edge weakly serrate around angle, with 5-14 (usually 6-8) minute serrations; preopercular ridge smooth; tip of light organ on each side of tongue bound by membrane (Ref. 90035).
Biology:  Solitary or in small groups. Found in sheltered coral reefs (Ref 90102). The smallest recorded female with visually detectable maturing eggs was 1.43 cm SL (Ref. 90035).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 August 2023 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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