Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Genus: Perciformes (Perch-like), Siganidae (Rabbitfishes)
Scientific Name: Siganus stellatus
English Name: Brown-spotted spinefoot
Creole Name: Kordonnyen margrit
French Name: Sigan marguerite
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 3; Dorsal rays: 25-27; Anal rays: 24-25.
Greyish to greenish brown dorsally, with small pale spots. Whitish ventrally with yellow spots that can coalesce to form a reticulum particularly posteriorly. 3 large
oval white spots along the back and a small one dorsally on caudal peduncle; a broad white streak often on side of body posterior to upper end of gill opening. White
blotches and mid-lateral stripe can disappear with growth. An oblique groove before the eye; large bony scales behind gill opening. Caudal peduncle depressed, slender
and tapering. Yellow bands on dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin, yellow with white bars and stripes pattern and diffuse black margin, double emarginate, lobes longer
with growth.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 60cm TL
Habitat and Ecology:
Reef associated. Inhabits mud and silt sand bottoms (depth 7-350m), usually 7-100m depth on sand, sponge, and weed bottoms. Feeds on benthic animals, including crabs,
molluscs and sea urchins. Juveniles in sheltered coastal bays and estuaries.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in both the fish trap and hand line fisheries and is, along with Sufflamen fraenatum,
the most commonly caught triggerfish in the artisanal fishery.
Notes:
Abalistes stellaris is a synonym for this species.
References:
Bray, D.J. (2018). Abalistes stellatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/759 (30/10/18).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase https://www.fishbase.de/summary/abalistes-stellatus (30/10/18)
Matsuura, K. (2015). Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014. Ichthyol Res (2015)
62:72–113 DOI 10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5
Matsuura, K. & Motomura, H. (2015). Abalistes stellatus. The IUCN Red List 2015: e.T193587A56996805. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/193587/56996805 (18/06/22). .
Matsuura K, Yoshino T (2004). A new triggerfish of the genus Abalistes (Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from the western Pacific. Rec Aust Mus 56:189-194
Smith, M & Heemstra, P Eds. (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. & Mason-Parker, C. (2019). Abalistes stellatus, Starry triggerfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/abalistes-stellatus-anonymous-1798/ (updated 18/06/22).
Description:
Dorsal spines: 13; Dorsal rays: 10; Anal spines: 7; Anal rays: 9.
Head and body light greyish-brown and covered in small densely spaced brown spots. Diffuse eye sized, dark blotch at lateral line origin, very prominent in juveniles. Black spots on fins, caudal fin and trailing edges of dorsal and anal fins with a whitish margin. Iris with 9-10 evenly spaced brown spots.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range: unknown. Max Length: 40cm TL.
(Carpenter 2018, cites max length as 35cm TL).
Habitat and Ecology:
Inhabits seagrass beds, seaward coral reefs and lagoons (depth 1-30m). Adults typically fund in pairs, juveniles and sub-adults form schools. Adults feed on benthic seaweeds.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery, where it is a regular but not numerous component of the catch.
Notes:
Venomous spines may inflict painful injury.
References:
Bray, D.J. Siganus stellatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Mar 2019, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2215
Carpenter, K.E. et al 2018. Siganus stellatus. The IUCN Red List 2018: e.T117007235A117008793. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T117007235A117008793.en. (20/03/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2018. FishBase. http://fishbase.mnhn.fr/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=4622 (19/03/19).
Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.
Smith, M & Heemstra, P Eds. (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Woodland, D.J. Siganidae. Rabbitfishes (Spinefoots) www.fao.org/docrep/pdf/009/y0870e/y0870e27.pdf (20/03/19).
Citation:
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