Siganus sutor

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Siganus sutor
Siganus sutor Reunion.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Siganidae
Genus: Siganus
Species:
S. sutor
Binomial name
Siganus sutor
(Valenciennes, 1835)
Synonyms [2]
  • Amphacanthus sutorValenciennes, 1835
  • Buro brunneus Lacépède, 1803
  • Amphacanthus abhortaniValenciennes, 1835
  • Teuthis abhortani(Valenciennes, 1835)
  • Amphacanthus olivaceusValenciennes, 1835

Siganus sutor, the shoemaker spinefoot rabbitfish ,whitespotted rabbitfish or African whitespotted rabbitfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. [3] It lives in Indo-Pacific coral reefs. [4] It is endemic to the Indian Ocean, from Indonesia to Comoros. [2] S. sutor is one of the commercial marine fishes, which is ubiquitously caught, in Tanzania and the entire East African coast of the Indian Ocean. [5] S. sutor is among the most common fish species in the marine fisheries of Kenya, and accounts for around 40% of the artisanal fishery landings. [6] Various fishing gears are used to target the siganids, but basket traps are the preferred ones. [7] It is one of the mangrove/seagrass-associated coral reef fishes. [5] This species inhabits littoral areas and its fin spines are venomous to humans. [2]

Taxonomy

Siganus sutor was first formally described in 1835 as Amphacanthus sutor by the French zoologist Achilles Valenciennes with the type locality given as the Seychelles. [8] The specific name sutor means “cobbler” or "shoemaker", a reference to the local name given to this species in the Seychelles and Mauritius cordonnier, which means a "shoemaker", being a name for rabbitfishes in the Seychellois Creole and Mauritian Creole languages. Valenciennes did not explain this but it is thought to refer to the sharp spines of these fishes which may have been used to puncture leather, like an awl. [9]

Description

Siganus sutor has a maximum reported age of 3 years old. The color patterns of the fish extend to the fins. [2] During the daytime, the body of the S. sutor is usually a silver color with white spots. Sometimes there would be blue spots within the white spots. During night time, the fish has a mottled green or grey color. Siganus sutor has the ability to immediately change between these two color patterns. [10] The spines of the Siganids are slender, pungent and venomous. [2] Venom glands in the spines can cause great pain but are unlikely to be fatal to a healthy adult. [10] S. sutor has a total of 13-14 dorsal spines, 10 dorsal soft rays, 7 anal spines, 9-10 anal soft rays and 23 vertebrae. Long flap of anterior nostril shortens as the fish ages. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Siganus sutor occurs in the Western Indian Ocean off East Africa from Somalia to South Africa and around the islands of Madagascar, Réunion, Mauritius, the Comoros Islands, Rodrigues as well as in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen. Records elsewhere require confirmation. It is found at depths between 1 and 12 m (3 ft 3 in and 39 ft 4 in) [1] in inshore areas and pn inner reefs. It is frequently recorded in beds of seagrass.

Behavior

Siganus sutor shows diurnal schooling behavior and feed in shallow water habitats. [11] They inhabit in inshore areas, particularly in seagrass beds and coral reefs (when they are adults). [5] The depth range of the living habitat is from 1m to 50m, but usually from 1m to 12 m. [2] When S. sutor is threatened, it will raise its dorsal fin for protection. [10] Also, S. sutor returns to the same offshore coral patch reef aggregation site to spawn on subsequent full moons, migrating at most 3.3 km from fishing grounds closer to shore. [6]

Diet and feeding feature

Siganus sutor is an herbivore, which feeds mainly on macro-algae. [5] It is a diurnal feeder, but it is often seen out in the open sea on night dives off the Tanzanian coast. [10]

Venom and treatment

This species produces venom in the spines of its fins. [2] In a study of the venom of a congener it was found that rabbitfish venom was similar to the venom of stonefishes. [12] If a person is envenomated by the spines of Siganus sutor, the treatment is to use hot water (as hot as one can take) for 60 to 90 minutes. [10]

Parasitism

Siganus sutors are likely to have gill parasites, such as the monogeneans Psedohaliotrema sp., Tetrancistrum sigani and Microcotyle mouwoi, the copepods Hatschekia sp., Psedolepeophtheirus sp. and juvenile Caligidae, and prazina larvae of the isopod Gnathia sp. Compare to the subadults, adult siganids would have higher parasite load, and the juvenile siganids do not have any gill parasites. [13]

Reproduction

The two spawning seasons for Siganus sutor are January/February and May/June.The presence of these seasons is determined by three factors: (1) temporal changes in the condition factor and relative weight of the gonads, (2) the progression of peaks of maturity stages with seasonal presence of spent fish in the samples, and (3) the seasonal appearance of juveniles. [14]

Siganus sutor and two other fish species ( Lethrinus harak and Rastrelliger kanagurta ) had been used to study the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in marine fishes from Dar es Salaam Tanzania. Researchers had assessed the potential risks to human health and the suitability of the fishes' fins as a non-destructive monitoring organ. The results showed that fins were not suitable as non-destructive monitoring organs for most metals. The levels of metal intake of aluminum, cadmium, copper, iron, lead and zinc in the muscles of the Siganus sutor were below the FAO/WHO maximum levels for contaminants and toxins in food for human consumption. [5]

Existing management regulations

Wildlife Conservation Society, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and State Department of Fisheries have promoted modification of the basket trap by adding an escape gap to help reduce the by-catch, which then allows the juveniles and small-sized fish to swim out of the trap. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rabbitfish</span> Genus of fishes

Rabbitfishes or spinefoots, genus Siganus, are perciform fishes in the family Siganidae. It is the only extant genus in its family and has 29 species. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foxface rabbitfish</span> Species of fish

The foxface rabbitfish, also known as the foxface, black-face rabbit fish, badger fish or the 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blotched foxface</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange-spotted spinefoot</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masked spinefoot</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-spotted spinefoot</span> 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.

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

Siganus doliatus, commonly known as the barred spinefoot, scribbled rabbitfish, pencil-streaked rabbitfish, barred Spanish mackerel, blue-lined rabbitfish or two-barred rabbitfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is native to the western Pacific Ocean where it occurs on reefs and in lagoons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streamlined spinefoot</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dusky spinefoot</span> 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.

<i>Siganus insomnis</i> Species of rabbitfish

Siganus insomnis, the bronze-lined spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the northern central Indian Ocean. It had formerly been confused with S. lineatus, but was recognized as a separate species in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-lined spinefoot</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vermiculated spinefoot</span> 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 a 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> Species of fish

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.

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

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.

<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 Yahya, S.; Borsa, P.; Jiddawi, N.; Carpenter, K.E.; Obota, C.; Smith-Vaniz, W.F. (2018). "Siganus sutor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T117007332A117008798. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T117007332A117008798.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2021). "Siganus sutor" in FishBase. June 2021 version.
  3. ↑ Agembe, S. (2012). "Estimation of important reproductive parameters for management of the Shoemaker Spinefoot rabbitfish (Siganus sutor) in Southern Kenya". International Journal of Marine Science. 2 (4): 24–30.
  4. ↑ Shirinabadi, M.; Matinfar, A.; Kamali, A. & Hosseinzadeh, H. (2013). "Effect of different light regimes on the maturational progress of the whitespotted rabbitfish (Siganus sutor)". Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences. 12 (4): 916–927.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Mziray, P. & Kimirei, I.A. (2016). "Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in marine fishes (Siganus sutor, Lethrinus harak, and Rastrelliger kanagurta) from Dar es Salaam Tanzania". Regional Studies in Marine Science. 7: 72–80. doi:10.1016/j.rsma.2016.05.014.
  6. 1 2 Samoilys, M.; Kanyange, N.; Macharia, D.; et al. "Dynamics of rabbitfish (Siganus sutor) spawning aggregations in southern Kenya". In Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations in the Western Indian Ocean: Research for Management. Series 5. WIOMSA.
  7. 1 2 "Stock assessment of rabbitfish Siganus sutor along the Kenya coast". Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  8. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Siganus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  9. ↑ 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 3 September 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Alan Sutton (20 September 2017). "Whitespotted Rabbitfish-Facts Photographs and Video". Seaunseen. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  11. ↑ Kamukuru, A.T. (2009). "Trap fishery and reproductive biology of the whitespotted rabbitfish Siganus sutor (Siganidae), within the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserves, Tanzania". Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science. 8 (1): 75–86.
  12. ↑ 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. S2CID   205439876.
  13. ↑ Geets, A.; Coene, H.; Ollevier, F. (1997). "Ectoparasites of the whitespotted rabbitfish, Siganus sutor (Valenciennes, 1835) off the Kenyan Coast: distribution within the host population and site selection on the gills". Parasitology. 115: 69–79. doi:10.1017/s0031182097001054. PMID   9280897.
  14. ↑ Ntiba, M. J. & Jaccarini, V. (1990). "Gonad maturation and spawning times of Siganus sutor off the Kenya coast: evidence for definite spawning seasons in a tropical fish". Journal of Fish Biology. 37 (2): 315–325. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1990.tb05862.x.
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