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Mozambique siphonfish (Siphamia mossambica) — Apogonidae

Mozambique siphonfish

Siphamia mossambica
Family: Apogonidae

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

Length
4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–26.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Mozambique siphonfish is a small light cardinalfish (Apogonidae) from shallow reef water of the western Indian Ocean. 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 Mozambique siphonfish?

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

Where does the Mozambique siphonfish live?

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

How big does the Mozambique siphonfish get?

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

Is the Mozambique siphonfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Mozambique siphonfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Mozambiek-lichtkardinaal sourced
English name
Mozambique siphonfish sourced
Scientific name
Siphamia mossambica
Family
Apogonidae
Other names
Sea urchin cardinal sourced

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
26.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless 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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