| Family: |
Siganidae (Rabbitfishes) |
| Max. size: |
40 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range - 1 m |
| Distribution: |
Indian Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to the Andaman Sea. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 7-7; Anal soft rays: 9-9; Vertebrae: 13-13. 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. |
| Biology: |
Common in coral reefs; juveniles enter weedy estuaries (Ref. 4407). Juveniles and subadults form schools, adults in pairs. Adults feed on benthic seaweeds (Ref. 9813). Anterolateral glandular grooves with venom gland (Ref. 57406). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 July 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
venomous |
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