Siphamia fuscolineata Lachner, 1953
Crown-of-thorns cardinalfish
Siphamia fuscolineata
photo by Chen, J.-P.

Family:  Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes), subfamily: Apogoninae
Max. size:  4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 7 - 27 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Sumatra, south Taiwan, and the Marshall Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Plain dark brown to black, showing a lined pattern on occasion, and usually when caught or as juveniles. Black lines slightly broader in width to pale interspaces. Sometimes confused with the striped form of Siphamia tubifer or S. versicolor, that has narrower black lines (Ref. 48635).
Biology:  A rare species found in lagoons, among the spines of Acanthaster planci, in groups of up to 31 (Ref. 1602) from depths of 7 m or more (Ref. 37816). Minimum depth taken from Ref. 57178.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 February 2021 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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