Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Siganidae (Rabbitfishes)
Etymology: Siganus: Latin, siganus = a fish, rabbit fish; by the similarity of the nose (Ref. 45335). More on author: Forsskål.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 50672). Subtropical, preferred ?; 32°N - 36°S, 25°E - 58°E
Western Indian Ocean: several localities in East Africa, and from the Red Sea to the eastern Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 13.7 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 27.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 50671); common length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30573)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 13;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 10;
Anal
spines: 7;
Anal
soft rays: 9;
Vertebrae: 23. Upper body gray, green or brownish, silvery below; iris iridescent silver or golden. Body color patterns extend to the fins. Spines slender, pungent and venomous. Preopercular angle 88°-96°; cheeks scaled; midline of thorax, isthmus and midline of belly without scales. Frightened fish become mottled or with 6 diagonal zones across side. Tip of broad-based flap of anterior nostril reaching at least halfway to orifice of posterior nostril.
Inhabits shallow waters and generally in schools of 50 to several hundred individuals; prefers protected areas. Feeds by grazing on algae.
Woodland, D.J., 1990. Revision of the fish family Siganidae with descriptions of two new species and comments on distribution and biology. Indo-Pac. Fish. (19):136 p. (Ref. 1419)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial
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