Wood's Siphonfish

Siphamia cephalotes

Wood's Siphonfish, a member of the family Apogonidae, is a small reef fish found in the temperate waters of southern Australia. It is endemic to this region, with a distribution range extending from Shark Bay in Western Australia to Byron Bay in New South Wales. This species is typically found in coastal embayments and the lower reaches of estuaries, often forming schools near kelp or seagrass beds at depths ranging from 0 to 10 meters. The fish is relatively slender, reaching a maximum length of 5.0 cm. It can be identified by its distinct fin structure, which includes 7 dorsal spines, 8 dorsal soft rays, 2 anal spines, and 8 to 9 anal soft rays. The pectoral fin rays number between 12 and 14 and are unbranched. Its body is compressed with large, mostly ctenoid scales, and it features a light organ on each side of the tongue. Wood's Siphonfish is a mouthbrooder, with distinct pairing observed during courtship and spawning. In South Australian waters, adults have been seen brooding eggs in January. As a benthic species, it is harmless to humans and has not been evaluated for conservation status by the IUCN.