Tubemouth, Siphonognathus argyrophanes Richardson, 1858

Scientific name: Siphonognathus argyrophanes
Tubemouth, <i>Siphonognathus argyrophanes</i> Click to enlarge image
A Tubemouth, Siphonognathus argyrophanes, at a depth of 4m, Cape Naturaliste, Western Australia, June 2009. Image: Sascha Schulz
© Sascha Schulz

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Siphonognathus
    Species
    argyrophanes
    Family
    Labridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 45 cm in length.

Introduction

The Tubemouth is green dorsally, whitish to red-brown below and has a dark lateral stripe. It is endemic to Australia

Identification

The Tubemouth has a very elongate head and body, with a fleshy barbel extending from the tip of the upper lip. The teeth are mostly fused and beak-like. The low dorsal fin is long-based. The anal fin is shorter and positioned below the rear third of the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is long and pointed. There are no pelvic fins. The Tubemouth is green dorsally, whitish to red-brown below and has a dark lateral stripe.

Tubemouth head
A Tubemouth in a weed bed at a depth of 8m, between the two jetties at Rapid Bay, South Australia, 14 February 2010. Image: David and Leanne Atkinson
© David and Leanne Atkinson

Habitat

The species is most often seen in seagrass beds.

Distribution

It is endemic to Australia, occurring from Bass Strait, Tasmania to south-western Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Gomon, M.F. in Gomon, M.F, Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  2. Gomon, M.F. & J.R. Paxton. 1985. A revision of the Odacidae, a temperate Australian-New Zealand labroid fish family. Indo-Pacific Fishes. 8: 1-57.
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.