Scientific Name
Siganus stellatus

Common Name
Brown-spotted spinefoot

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 7; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 13. Indian Ocean subspecies. S. s. laqueus greyish green with head and body covered with chocolate brown spots; in S. s. stellatus, background color is yellowish. Trailing edges of soft parts of dorsal and anal fins, perimeter of caudal fin and a saddle over the caudal peduncle are markedly paler than the rest. Silvery iris, tinted brown or green, with 10 equally spaced spots. Spines stout; pungent only in juveniles. Preopercular angle 92?-103?. Strong scales cover the cheeks. Usually midline of thorax fully scaled, but pelvic ridges sometimes without scales.

Classification

Classified By

Forssk?l, 1775

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Rabbitfishes (Siganidae)

Distribution

Region

Indian Ocean

Distribution

Indian Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to the Andaman Sea.

Range

30°N - 35°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - ? m (Ref. 9710), usually 5 - 30 m (Ref. 27115)

Trophic Level

2.7 s.e. 0.30 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

40.0 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 4537)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated