THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

Orange Spotted Spinefoot
Siganus guttatus (Siganidae)
Rabbitfishes and Spinefoots
Distribution: East Indo-Pacific.
Habitat: To 25 m in inner lagoons, turbid
coastal reefs, mangroves and brackish waters.
Typically in large groups of conspecifics.
Appearance: Length to 42 cm. Pale grey with
numerous orange-gold spots; large yellow spot
on caudal peduncle below base of dorsal fin.
Diet: Algae and seagrasses, though known
to nip on large-polyp stony corals as well as
soft corals.
Reproduction and Development: Spawners.
Mortality/Longevity: Highly esteemed as a
food fish.
Remarks: The spines of rabbitfishes (Siganidae)
are venomous, and can inflict painful wounds.
Common name “rabbitfish” is due to their
voracious appetites for browse. The orangespotted
rabbitfish in the Steinhart coral reef
tank at Howard Street left the large Sarcophyton
soft corals with bare spots where the fish fed.
Gold Spotted Spinefoot
Siganus punctatus (Siganidae)
Rabbitfishes and Spinefoots
Distribution: Tropical Western Pacific.
Habitat: Clear lagoon and seaward reefs from
1–40 m. Adults typically paired. Juveniles in
groups to 50 individuals.
Appearance: Length to 40 cm. Highly
compressed body. Blue, with numerous dark
edged orange spots on the head and caudal fin.
Diet: Benthic algae.
Reproduction and Development: Fertilization
external. Spawn in pairs.
Remarks: Like all rabbitfishes, possess
venomous spines.
Adults usually swim together as a pair.
Masked Spinefoot
Siganus puellus (Siganidae)
Rabbitfishes and Spinefoots
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific.
Habitat: Shallow, coral-rich areas of lagoons
and seaward reefs to 30 m. Adults often in
pairs; species forms large schools in shallows,
lagoons and outer reef flats, particularly in
areas dominated by luxurious growths of
California Academy of Sciences
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Acropora coral.
Appearance: Length to 38 cm. Highly
compressed body yellow with wavy, broken
blue lines. Dark band from eyes to mouth. Dark
dots extend from eyes to dorsal fin.
Diet: Juveniles feed on filamentous algae;
adults on algae, tunicates, and sponges.
Remarks: Venomous spines, which can be
flashed at any bothersome fish or hand.
Blotched Foxface Rabbitfish
Siganus unimaculatus (Siganidae)
Rabbitfishes and Spinefoots
Distribution: Western Pacific: Ryukyu Islands
of Japan, the Philippines, south to western
Australia.
Habitat: Coral rich areas of lagoons and
seaward reefs to depths of 30 m.
Appearance: Same as the Foxface Rabbitfish (S.
vulpinus) except for the black spot or ‘blotch”
on posterior upper side of body. Max. length:
20 cm.
Diet: Seaweeds.
Reproduction and Development: Pelagic
spawner.
Remarks: Some researchers believe S.
unimaculatus and S. vulpinus are a single
species.
All siganids have venomous spines on dorsal
and anal fins.
Barhead Spinefoot aka Varigate Rabbitfish
Siganus virgatus (Siganidae)
Rabbitfishes and Spinefoots
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific.
Habitat: Usually shallow, inshore coastal reefs,
often in turbid water to 12 m. Juveniles are
found in mangrove lagoons and are known to
enter freshwater.
Appearance: Yellow above, white below with
yellow dorsal and caudal fins; blue markings on
head and back. Eyes masked by a black stripe
that extends from the bottom of the mouth to the
top of the head, and a second black stripe behind
the gill cover. Max. length: 30 cm.
Diet: Benthic algae.
Reproduction and Development: Pelagic
spawner.
Mortality/Longevity: Stout venomous spines
discourage would-be predators.