| Family: |
Siganidae (Rabbitfishes) |
| Max. size: |
35 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine |
| Distribution: |
Indian Ocean: southern India, Sri lanka and the Maldives. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 7-7; Anal soft rays: 9-9. This deep-bodied species is distinguished from other siganids in that the whole of the sides of the body with the possible exception of the belly and a narrow strip adjacent to the base of the spinous dorsal fin (where a row of bronze spots may occur), are decorated with horizontal, parallel bronze bands extending the full length of the sides from nape and opercular slit back to and below the large yellow spot below the base of the soft dorsal fin; majority of these lines on the sides are complete (uninterrupted) along their length (Ref. 95994). |
| Biology: |
Adults live in schools, usually in coral and sandstone reefs and also seagrass beds; juveniles reportedly live in large estuaries such as Negombo Lagoon (5 km x 3 km). Apparently, estuaries are an important habitat for juveniles and sub-adults, with older fish moving to coral reefs. Feeds by scraping algae from rock and coral substrates and browsing on seaweeds and sea grasses. It supplements its diet with small items of animal tissue. A report on analysis of gut contents of specimens (2 - 27 cm SL), collected by trap and seine, from lagoons and coastal areas of Sri Lanka contain diatoms, green, blue-green, red and brown algae and a seagrass. It appeared that this species have a preference for feeding during the night when percentages of gut fullness between day and night catches were compared. It appeared to be nocturnal because it was mostly seen to be inactive during the day (Ref. 95994). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 July 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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