Siganus punctatus

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Siganus punctatus
Gold-spotted rabbitfish (Siganus punctatus).jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Siganidae
Genus: Siganus
Species:
S. punctatus
Binomial name
Siganus punctatus
(Schneider & Forster, 1801)
Synonyms [2]
  • Amphacanthus punctatusSchneider & Forster, 1801
  • Teuthis punctata(Schneider & Forster, 1801)
  • Teuthis punctatus(Schneider & Forster, 1801)
  • Siganus fuscus Griffith & C.H. Smith, 1834
  • Harpurus inermisForster, 1844
  • Amphacanthus chrysospilos Bleeker, 1852
  • Siganus chrysospilos(Bleeker, 1852)
  • Siganus chrysospilus(Bleeker, 1852)
  • Teuthis chrysospilus(Bleeker, 1852)
  • Amphacanthus hexagonatusBleeker, 1854
  • Siganus hexagonata(Bleeker, 1854)
  • Teuthis hexagonata(Bleeker, 1854)
  • Teuthis hexagonatus(Bleeker, 1854)
  • Amphacanthus melanospilosBleeker, 1855
  • Siganus capricornensis Whitley, 1926
  • Amphacanthus capricornensis(Whitley, 1926)

Siganus punctatus the goldspotted spinefoot, goldspotted rabbitfish, punctuated spinefoot, spotted rabbitfish, spotted spinefoot or yellow-spotted spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It occurs in the Indo-West Pacific region.

Contents

Taxonomy

Siganus punctatus was first formally described in 1801 as Amphacanthus punctatus by Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider and Johann Reinhold Forster with the type locality given as Nomuka Island in the Ha'apai Group of Tonga. [3] The specific name punctatus means “spotted”, a reference to the golden spots on the head, body and tail. [4]

Description

Siganus punctatus has a laterally compressed, deep body which has a depth which fits into its standard length between 1.9 and 2.3 times. The head has a straight dorsal profile, it runs from the forehead to the snout at an angle of 45°, while the ventral profile is slightly indented underneath the chin. In fish of less than 13 cm (5.1 in) standard length the front nostril has a flap extending half-way to the rear nostril, this flap is reduced to a low rim with a relict posterior peak once the standard length has reached 15 cm (5.9 in). A recumbent spine is to the front of the dorsal fin, it is imbedded in the nape. [5] Like all rabbitfishes, the dorsal fin has 13 spines and 10 soft rays while the anal fin has 7 spines and 9 soft rays. [2] The fin spines are robust and hold venom glands. [6] The caudal fin is emarginate in individuals with a standard length of less than 13 cm (5.1 in) as the fish grows it slowly changes to become deeply forked with the tips of the lobes broadly rounded. [5] This species attains a maximum total length of 40 cm (16 in), although 30 cm (12 in) is more typical. [2] The overall colour is greyish with a dense pattern of brown spots with darker margins over the head, body and fins. There is sometimes a pale saddle on the caudal peduncle and a large ocellus to the rear of the upper margin of the gill cover. The spots on juveniles are fewer in number and larger in size. [6] There is frequently a very narrow yellow margin to the caudal fin. [7]

Distribution and habitat

Siganus punctatus has a wide Indo-West Pacific distribution extending from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean east to Samoa, [1] north to Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands of Japan and south to Australia. [2] In Australia its range runs from Rottnest Island in Western Australia north and east along the northern tropical coast and then south on the east coast as far as North West Solitary Island in New South Wales, it is also found at Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef off Western Australia, the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea and in the Coral Sea at Coringa-Herald Cays and Lihou Reef. [6] It occurs down to 40 m (130 ft) in depth in clear lagoons and on seaward reefs as adults while the juveniles school in estuaries. [1]

Biology

Siganus punctatus live in pairs on reefs as adults while the juveniles aggregate in schools of up to 50 fish, the size of the schools decline as the fish mature and they begin to pair off once they have attained a standard length of around 15 cm (5.9 in), but fish as large as 22 cm (8.7 in) may still be in schools. [2] They feed on benthic algae. [5] This species produces venom in the spines of its fins. [6] In a study of the venom of a congener it was found that rabbitfish venom was similar to the venom of stonefishes. [8]

Utilisation

Siganus punctatus is caught by spearfishing or in fish traps and the catch is sold as fresh fish. [5] It is occasionally found in the aquarium trade. [9]

Related Research Articles

Rabbitfish Genus of fishes

Rabbitfishes or spinefoots are perciform fishes in the family Siganidae. The 29 species are in a single genus, Siganus. In some now obsolete classifications, the species having prominent face stripes—colloquially called foxfaces–are in the genus Lo. Other species, such as the masked spinefoot, show a reduced form of the stripe pattern. Rabbitfishes are native to shallow waters in the Indo-Pacific, but S. luridus and S. rivulatus have become established in the eastern Mediterranean via Lessepsian migration. They are commercially important food fish, and can be used in the preparation of dishes such as bagoong.

Foxface rabbitfish Species of fish

The foxface rabbitfish, also known as the foxface, black-face rabbitfish or common foxface, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It can be found in the aquarium trade.

Blotched foxface Species of fish

The blotched foxface, also called the blackblotch foxface or one-spot foxface, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found at reefs and lagoons in the central Indo-Pacific. Except for the black spot on the rear upper body, it resembles the closely related foxface rabbitfish.

Orange-spotted spinefoot Species of fish

The orange-spotted spinefoot, also known as the deepbody spinefoot, gold-saddle rabbitfish, golden rabbitfish, golden-spotted spinefoot, goldlined spinefoot or yellowblotch spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

Masked spinefoot Species of fish

The masked spinefoot, also known as the masked rabbitfish, bluelined rabbitfish, blue-lined spinefoot, decorated rabbitfish or maiden spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It occurs in shallow, coral-rich areas of clear lagoons and seaward reefs of the Indo-West Pacific region.

Blue-spotted spinefoot Species of fish

The blue-spotted spinefoot, the coral rabbitfish, coral spinefoot, ocellated spinefoot or orange spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific where it is often caught as a food fish and occasionally as an aquarium fish.

Streaked spinefoot Species of fish

The streaked spinefoot, also known as the Java rabbitfish, blue-spotted spinefoot, blue-spotted trevally, Java spinefoot or white-spotted rabbit-fish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found throughout most of the Indo-Pacific region.

Streamlined spinefoot Species of fish

The streamlined spinefoot, also known as the forktail rabbitfish, schooling rabbitfish or silver spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

Dusky spinefoot Species of fish

The dusky spinefoot, also known the squaretail rabbitfish,is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is native to the western Indian Ocean which has spread to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Its fin spines contain venom. It is regarded as a food fish.

Golden-lined spinefoot Species of fish

The golden-lined spinefoot, also known as the goldlined rabbitfish or lined rabbitfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the tropical Western Pacific and along the coasts of northern Australia.

Vermiculated spinefoot Species of fish

The vermiculated spinefoot, also known as maze rabbitfish, scribbled spinefoot or vermiculate rabbitfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. Like all rabbitfishes, it has venomous spines on the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins. It is reef associated fish species of the Indo-West Pacific region. It is a common commercially important fish in many tropical countries.

<i>Siganus virgatus</i> Species of fish

Siganus virgatus, the barhead spinefoot, doublebar rabbitfish or doublebar spinefoot is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Siganus canaliculatus</i> Species of fish

Siganus canaliculatus, the white-spotted spinefoot, white-spotted rabbitfish, pearly spinefoot, seagrass rabbitfish, slimy spinefoot or smudgespot spinefoot is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is native to the western Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean where it occurs on reefs and in lagoons.

<i>Siganus fuscescens</i>

Siganus fuscescens, the 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, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.

Blackeye rabbitfish Species of fish

The blackeye rabbitfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indian Ocean.

Peppered spinefoot Species of fish

The peppered spinefoot, also known as the finespotted rabbitfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It occurs in the Indo-West Pacific region.

<i>Siganus randalli</i> Species of fish

Siganus randalli, the variegated spinefoot or Randall's rabbitfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Siganus spinus</i> Species of fish

Siganus spinus, the little spinefoot, scribbled rabbitfish, blunt-nosed spinefoot, spiny rabbitfish or spiny spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Siganus stellatus</i> Species of fish

Siganus stellatus, the brown-spotted spinefoot, brown-spotted rabbitfish, honeycomb rabbitfish, starspotted spinefoot, starspotted rabbitfish or stellate rabbitfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Siganus trispilos</i> Species of fish

Siganus trispilos, the threeblotched rabbitfish, threespot rabbitfish, threeblotch spinefoot or threespot spinefoot is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is endemic to the eastern Indian Ocean off northwestern Western Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Carpenter, K.E. & Smith-Vaniz, W.F. (2017) [2016]. "Siganus punctatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T69738738A115470966. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69738738A69742629.en . Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2021). "Siganus punctatus" in FishBase. June 2021 version.
  3. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Siganus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  4. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (12 January 2021). "Order Acanthuriformes (part 2): Families Ephippidae, Leiognathidae, Scatophagidae, Antigoniidae, Siganidae, Caproidae, Luvaridae, Zanclidae and Acanthuridae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 D.J. Woodland (2001). "Siganidae". In Carpenter, K.E. and Niem, V.H. (eds.). FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 6. Bony fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine crocodiles, sea turtles, sea snakes and marine mammal (PDF). FAO Rome. p. 3642. ISBN   92-5-104587-9.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Bray, D.J. (2018). "Siganus punctatus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  7. "Siganus punctatus". Reef Life Survey. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  8. Kiriake A; Ishizaki S; Nagashima Y; Shiomi K (2017). "Occurrence of a stonefish toxin-like toxin in the venom of the rabbitfish Siganus fuscescens". Toxicon. 140: 139–146. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.10.015. PMID   29055787.
  9. "Siganus punctatus". Saltcorner. Bob Goemans. Retrieved 1 September 2021.