genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...
of
ray-finned fish
Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species.
The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or h ...
es,
weed whiting
The Odacidae are a small family of ray-finned fishes formerly classified within the order Perciformes, commonly known as cales, and weed whitings. They are related to the much larger families of the wrasses and parrotfish. More recent workers ha ...
s in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Odacidae
The Odacidae are a small family of ray-finned fishes formerly classified within the order Perciformes, commonly known as cales, and weed whitings. They are related to the much larger families of the wrasses and parrotfish. More recent workers hav ...
which are
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...
to Southern Australian coastal waters. These fish are characterized by their extremely elongate bodies and live primarily in seagrass beds.
Species
There are currently six recognized species in this genus:
* ''
Siphonognathus argyrophanes
The tubemouth (''Siphonognathus argyrophanes'') is a species of ray-finned fish, a weed whiting from the family Odacidae. It is endemic to the southern coatsts of Australia where it is camouflaged to live among beds of seagrass.
Description
The ...
Siphonognathus attenuatus
''Siphonognathus'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes, weed whitings in the family Odacidae which are endemic to Southern Australian coastal waters. These fish are characterized by their extremely elongate bodies and live primarily in seagrass bed ...
'' ( J. D. Ogilby, 1897) (Slender weed whiting)
* ''
Siphonognathus beddomei
''Siphonognathus'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes, weed whitings in the family Odacidae which are endemic to Southern Australian coastal waters. These fish are characterized by their extremely elongate bodies and live primarily in seagrass bed ...
Siphonognathus caninis
''Siphonognathus'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes, weed whitings in the family Odacidae which are endemic to Southern Australian coastal waters. These fish are characterized by their extremely elongate bodies and live primarily in seagrass bed ...
'' (
J. K. Scott
John Kimball Scott III (born October 30, 1995) is an American football punter for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth roun ...
, 1976) (Sharpnose weed whiting)
* ''
Siphonognathus radiatus
''Siphonognathus'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes, weed whitings in the family Odacidae which are endemic to Southern Australian coastal waters. These fish are characterized by their extremely elongate bodies and live primarily in seagrass bed ...
Gaimard
Joseph Paul Gaimard (31 January 1793 – 10 December 1858) was a French naval surgeon
A naval surgeon, or less commonly ship's doctor, is the person responsible for the health of the ship's company aboard a warship. The term appears often ...
, 1834) (Long-rayed weed whiting)
* ''
Siphonognathus tanyourus
''Siphonognathus'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes, weed whitings in the family Odacidae which are endemic to Southern Australian coastal waters. These fish are characterized by their extremely elongate bodies and live primarily in seagrass bed ...
Fishbase
FishBase is a global species database of fish species (specifically finfish). It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web.
places all six of these species in the genus ''Siphonognathus'', the
Catalog of Fishes
Catalog of Fishes is a comprehensive on-line database and reference work on the scientific names of fish species and genera. It is global in its scope and is hosted by the California Academy of Sciences. It has been compiled and is continuously u ...
places ''S. attentuatus'', ''S. beddomei'', ''S. radiatus'' and ''S. tanyourus'' in the separate genus ''Sheardichthys'' and places ''S. caninis'' on the
monospecific
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispe ...
genus ''Parodax'', leaving ''Siphonognathus'' as a monospecific genus containing only the
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 coatsts of Australia where it is camouflaged to live among beds of seagrass.
Description
The ...