Goldspotted Spinefoot

Siganus punctatus

Goldspotted Spinefoot

Siganus punctatus

Other Common Names
Gold-spotted Rabbitfish

Connected Coasts

Other Common Names

Gold-spotted Rabbitfish

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

The goldspotted spinefoot has spots all over its body and head that appear to be dark brown from a distance, but are actually bright orange on a greenish gray background.

Juveniles look similar to adults but have fewer spots. The spots they do have are larger in size.

The goldspotted spinefoot can grow up to 45 cm but are more commonly observed at 30 cm.

Habitat

Clear lagoons and seaward reefs at depths of 1-40 m.

Diet

Benthic algae

Life History

Spawning occurs around either new or full moons. Eggs and sperm are released into the water, and once eggs are fertilized and hatch, the larvae drift in the ocean currents.

Juveniles live in shallow coastal waters, often among mangroves in freshwater run-offs. Juveniles live in schools of up to ~50 individuals in shallow estuaries. Schooling behavior decreases as they grow. When they grow to about 22 cm the goldspotted spinefoot generally lives in pairs on deep coastal reefs.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

The goldspotted spinefoot is important in small-scale and commercial fisheries, particularly those in Palau.

This species plays a key role in coral reef ecosystems throughout their range since they help limit algae growth. This action maintains and improves the health of coral.

Widely distributed in the western Pacific, from Cocos-Keeling Islands east to Samoa and from Australia to southern Japan.

Like other species of rabbitfish, the goldspotted spinefoot has venomous spines in its fins that help protect against predators.

Citations & Other Resources

Anne Hoggett / Lizard Island Research Station., Siganus punctatus, CC BY 3.0
Carpenter, K.E. & W.F. Smith-Vaniz. 2016. Siganus punctatus (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.
Kuiter, R. H. 1997. Guide to sea fishes of Australia. New Holland, Frenchs Forest, Australia.
Myers, R. F. 1989. Micronesian reef fishes: a practical guide to the identification of the coral reef fishes of the tropical central and western Pacific. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Territory of Guam, U.S.A.
Rhodes, K., D. Hernandez‐Ortiz, M. Ioanis, W. Washington, S. Maxim, K. Olpet, and S. Malakai. 2017. Goldspotted spinefoot Siganus punctatus (Siganidae) age‐based reproductive life history and fisheries vulnerability. Journal of fish biology 91:1392–1406.
Taquet, M. 2012. Fishes of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. 1st ed. Éditions Quæ, Versailles.

Goldspotted Spinefoot

Goldspotted Spinefoot

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

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