Animal Species:Spotted Rabbitfish, Siganus punctatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

The Spotted Rabbitfish can be recognised by its colouration. It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific.

Spotted Rabbitfish at the Cod Hole

Spotted Rabbitfish at the Cod Hole
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

Goldspotted Rabbitfish, Goldspotted Spinefoot, Punctated Spinefoot, Yellow-spotted Spinefoot

Identification

The Spotted Rabbitfish can be recognised by its colouration. It is blue, with numerous orange spots covering the head, body and caudal fin. There is sometimes a dark, eye-sized "ear spot" behind the eye.

Size range

The species grows to 40 cm in length.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific. In Australia it is known from south-western to north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland to northern New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Siganus punctatus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Spotted Rabbitfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
punctatus
Genus:
Siganus
Family:
Siganidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Kuiter, R.H & H. Debelius. 2001. Surgeonfishes, Rabbitfishes and their relatives. A Comprehensive Guide to Acanthuroidei. TMC Publishing. Pp. 208.
  6. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Spotted Rabbitfish, Siganus punctatus, Siganidae, blue, orange, black, deep-bodied, 30 cm - 1 m, dots/spots, coral reef, marine, adult,