Tubemouth

The tubemouth (Siphonognathus argyrophanes) is a species of ray-finned fish, a weed whiting from the family Odacidae. It is endemic to the southern coasts of Australia.

 Description 
The tubemouth has an elongated, needle-like body. The long-based dorsal fin is low and the shorter anal fin sits below the posterior third of the dorsal fin. It lacks pelvic fins.

It's very unique in its form that it was considered that this Siphonognathus was once described as a cornetfish.

 Distribution 
The tubemouth is endemic to southern Australia where it can be found from Geraldton in Western Australia southwards and then along the southern coast of Australia to the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria and Tasmania.

 Habitat and biology 
The tubemouth occurs in sheltered areas where there is a dense growth of posidonias.

 Related pages 

 Slender weed whiting
 Little weed whiting
 Alligator gar
 List of fish common names

 References 

 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Siphonognathus argyrophanes" in FishBase. April 2006 version.

Category:Labridae
Category:IUCN Red List least concern species
Category:Fish of Australia
Category:Taxa described in 1858