Colours
Distinguishing features
A medium sized yellowish fish with fine blue dots all over the body, and sometimes a small dark area near the eye. Usually seen in pairs, or sometimes in small groups within larger schools of Bluelined Rabbitfish.
Size
- Up to 35 cm (Standard length)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Shallow reef flat areas near good coral cover in lagoons and other sheltered backreef habitats.
Can be found in most locations around the island.
Behaviour
The Coral Rabbitfish is a roving herbivore, moving around the reef in pairs and feeding on turf algae, seagrass and macroalgae. They spawn in groups during the warmer months, when fast running tidal currents coincide with dawn and dusk. They are mature at about 2 years of age, and the spawning takes place at a regular lunar phase. There is little published information on the demography or ecology of the Siganidae, but they are likely to be long-lived fishes. Juveniles look similar to the adults, but are always uncommon.
Web resources
Danger
- unspecified - The dorsal and ventral fin spines are poisonous, so care should be taken if handling this fish. First Aid - click here
References
References that assist with identification
- Streit, R.P. and D.R. Bellwood (2017). High prevalence of homing behaviour among juvenile coral-reef fishes and the role of body size, Coral Reefs, 36(4): 1083-1095. LIRS catalog number 2091.
Other references
- Bellwood, D.R., C.H.R. Goatley, J.A. Khan and S.B. Tebbett (2016). Site fidelity and homing in juvenile rabbitfishes (Siganidae), Coral Reefs, 35: 1151-1155. LIRS catalog number 2053.
- Borsa, P., S. Lemer and D. Aurelle (2007). Patterns of lineage diversification in rabbitfishes, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 44: 427-435. LIRS catalog number 90138.
- View all references