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Siganus argenteus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
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Siganus argenteus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
  • Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
  • Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
  • Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Genus: ,

Scientific Name: Siganus argenteus

English Name: Streamlined spinefoot

Creole Name: Kordonnyen soulfanm/Kannalo

French Name: Poisson-lapin

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)



Information

Description:

Dorsal spines: 13; Dorsal rays: 10; Anal spines: 7; Anal rays: 9.

Body compressed, slender and fusiform. Small head with pointed profile. Silvery-yellow iris. Anterior nostril with a long flap reaching to or past posterior nostril. Deeply forked tail. Body blue above fading to silvery below with a dense network of small yellow spots that often form lines. Usually exhibits: a yellow stripe along dorsal fin base that extends to the dorsal surface of the peduncle, yellow spots on, and a dark brown bar on the upper margin of, the operculum.  Pectoral fins hyaline yellow. Caudal fin bluish grey with yellow spots on base and on outer rays; central rays yellow. Spinous part of anal fin mottled with white, yellow and brown.

When threatened or asleep, develops a mottled pattern very light and dark brown, with dark areas predominating in 7 diagonal zones across the sides; fins become mottled.


Size:

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range: 20 - ?cm. Max Length: 40cm TL. Common length 25cm TL.

(Both Woodland & Carpenter et al cite Maximum TL as “about 46 cm”). 


Habitat and Ecology:

Inhabits coastal reef, lagoon, macroalgal, and seagrass habitats (depth 0-40m, usually 1-30m). Occurs in schools of 2 -100 individuals typically in the surge zone at reef edge. Feeds on red and green macroalgae. Unlike most siganids, this species is a pelagic spawner and has a pelagic larval duration of 3-4 weeks, allowing for wider dispersal of propagules and thus is more resilient to exploitation.


Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery and is a common component of the trap catch.


Notes:

Venomous spines.

Superficially resembles Siganus canaliculatus particularly when young, but differs by having a much more deeply forked tail. 


References:

Bray, D.J. 2017, Siganus argenteus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Mar 2019, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2214

Carpenter, K.E. et al 2016. Siganus argenteus. The IUCN Red List 2016: e.T69689070A115468608. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69689070A69690329.en. (19/03/19).

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2018. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/siganus-argenteus (19/03/19).

Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.

Woodland, D.J. Siganidae. Rabbitfishes (Spinefoots) www.fao.org/docrep/pdf/009/y0870e/y0870e27.pdf (20/03/19).  


Citation:

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