Gold-saddle Rabbitfish

Siganus guttatus is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Siganidae. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to 42 cm in length, common length is 25 cm. Other names: Orange-spotted Spinefoot.

Description

Body color is dusky blue dorsally and silvery below with a bright yellow spot adjacent to last few rays of dorsal fin. Head is with lines and spots. Preopercular angle 91°-102°. Strong scales are fully cover the cheeks. Midline of thorax is scaled, not the pelvic ridges. Anterior nostril is with extremely low rim, slightly expanded posteriorly. Spines are stout, pungent, venomous. Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 7; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 13.

Distribution

Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific: Andaman Islands, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (including Irian Jaya), Viet Nam, Ryukyus, southern and eastern China, Taiwan, South China Sea, Philippines, and Palau. Replaced by Siganus lineatus to the west, south and east of the region described by the said localities.

Habitat

Inhabits turbid inshore reefs among mangroves; tolerates or even prefers low salinities. Fry settles in seagrass beds around river mouths and adults enter and leave rivers with the tide, but also found on the drop-offs of inshore fringing reefs down to 6 m. Schools throughout life; school size for adults around 10 or 15. Feeds on benthic algae. Unlike other siganids, this species is reported to be active at night.