Ryan Photographic - Siganidae - Rabbitfishes

Family Siganidae

There are 25 species of rabbitfishes in 2 genera (FishBase). The biggest species grow to around 40 cm. Rabbitfishes are all diurnal algal feeders and play an important part in the ecology of coral reefs and seagrass beds. Their constant grazing, often in large schools, prevents coral from becoming overgrown with algae. A few species feed on benthic organisms such as sponges and seasquirts.

They are popular foodfishes but their possession of venomous spines make them difficult to handle. The venom glands lie in grooves on either side of the spines. While not as painful or longlasting as Scorpaenid stings, care should be taken in handling rabbitfish.

Rabbitfishes undergo dramatic color changes at night with a disruptive pattern of dark bars, zig-zags and blotches. They usually sleeep on their side on the bottom. I once encountered a group of six in coral rubble while night-diving in Raja Ampat. I use the word sleep advisedly as rabbitfishes show no intial reaction to lights and take several seconds to respond. A photo of this group is below.

Most rabbitfish lay eggs on the bottom but a few, most notably the forktail rabbitfish produce pelagic eggs. The eggs and larvae are presumably able to disperse over large distances which may explain the wide distribution of this species.

Siganus argenteus Forktail rabbitfish

Siganus corallinus Coral rabbitfish

Siganus guttatus Golden rabbitfiish

Siganus javus Java rabbitfish

Siganus puellus Masked rabbitfish

Siganus uspi Bicolor rabbitfish

Siganus uspi Bicolor rabbitfish, named after the University of the South Pacific (USP), found in Tonga and Fiji. Photographed Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Siganus vulpinus Foxface rabbitfish

Fishes

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