15 photos - 10 species
Introduction
There is one genus with 28 species.
Important algae repellents.
They shear off the thin layer of algae that covers most stones in shallow water.
They have rays that contain a poison and should therefore be handled with care.
Depending on the species, they can reach a size of between 20 and 45 cm.
Siganus canaliculatus
White spotted winefoot
Maximum size: - 30 cm
Depth: 1 - 40 m
Inhabits mainly rocky coastal areas and reefs.
Juveniles form very large schools in shallow bays and coral reefs.
The larger they grow, the smaller the groups become.
Diet: Algae and sometimes also seagrass.
Individual or several fin rays are equipped with spines that inject venom when touched.
These injuries are not fatal, but very painful.
Bangka island North Sulawesi
Siganus fuscescens
Mottled spinefoot, Black rabbitfish, Black spinefoot, Dusky rabbitfish, Fuscous rabbitfish, Happy moments, Mi mi, Pearl-spotted spinefoot, Pin-spotted spinefoot, Stinging bream or West Australian rabbitfish
Maximum length: 30 cm
Depth: 1 - 10 m
Photo 1: Fish with camouflage coloration at night.
Small light blue to bluish-white spots on a gray body.
Found in bays and lagoons, rarely on outer reef slopes.
Photo 1: Bangka island North Sulawesi
Photo 2: Moalboal Philippines
Siganus guttatus
Orange-spotted spinefoot, Deepbody spinefoot, Gold-saddle rabbitfish, Golden rabbitfish, Golden-spotted spinefoot or Yellowblotch spinefoot
Maximum length: 40 cm
Depth: 5 - 35 m
On rocky reefs near the coast with soft corals.
They often hover in small groups in one place.
They have large pointed and venomous hard rays on their pectoral fins,
the sting of which is extremely painful and the pain lasts for at least half an hour.
Bali Indonesia
Siganus luridus
Dusky spinefoot or Squaretail rabbitfish
Maximum length: 24 cm
Depth: 2 - 18 m
Olive green to dark brown body.
Lives in bays, lagoons and on outer reefs.
Travelling singly or in pairs.
Feeds on benthic algae.
Hurghada Egypt
Siganus puelloides
Blackeye rabbitfish
Maximum length: 30 cm
Depth: 1 - 15 m
Swims in pairs or in small groups on reef tops and along drop-offs.
Embudu Maldives
Siganus puellus
Masked spinefoot, Masked rabbitfish, Blue-lined rabbitfish,
Blue-lined spinefoot, Decorated rabbitfish or Maiden spinefoot
Maximum length: 38 cm
Depth: 2 - 25 m
Wavy lines and dots on a yellow body.
A dark longitudinal band runs from the chin to the eye.
Grey to black dots above the eye.
Usually always travelling in pairs.
Photo 1: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Photo 2: Moalboal Philippines
Siganus rivulatus
Marbled spinefoot, Rivulated rabbitfish or Surf parrotfish
Maximum length: 30 cm
Depth: 2 - 15 m
At home on sandy bottoms in rock and coral reefs.
Often found in schools of up to 100 animals,
feeding on bottom algae.
El Qesir Egypt
Siganus stellatus
Brown-spotted spinefoot, Brown-spotted rabbitfish,
Honeycomp rabbitfish, Starspotted spinefoot, Starspotted rabbitfish or Stellate rabbitfish
Maximum length: 35 cm
Depth: 3 - 45 m
Yellowish body with dense black spots.
Inhabits clear lagoons and coral-rich outer reefs.
Adults in pairs, subadults in groups.
Feeds on seaweed and filamentous algae.
Not shy.
Hurghada Egypt
Siganus sutor
Shoemaker spinefoot, Whitespotted rabbitfish
Maximum length: 30 - 45 cm
Depth: 1 - 50 m
This species lives in coastal areas and its fin spines are poisonous to humans.
The name sutor means “cobbler” or “shoemaker”,
an allusion to the local name given to this species in the Seychelles and Mauritius:
It is thought to refer to the sharp spines of these fish,
which can be used like an awl to pierce leather.
It can live up to 3 years.
During the day, the body is usually silver in color with white spots,
sometimes there are blue spots between the white spots.
At night, the fish has a mottled green or grey color.
The spines of the siganids are slender, sharp and poisonous.
The venom glands in the spines can cause severe pain,
but are probably not fatal to a healthy adult.
Bangka island North Sulawesi
Siganus unimaculatus
Blotched foxface, Blackblotch foxface or One-spot foxface
Maximum length: 20 cm
Depth: 1 - 30 m
Distribution: Southeast Asia to the Philippines.
Moalboal Philippines