SIGANIDAE


Siganus guttatus, 7.0 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Siganus guttatus
(Bloch, 1787)
Orangespotted Spinefoot

D XIII, 10; A VII, 9; P1 15-17; P2 I, 3, I.

Body oval, strongly compressed, its depth 1.8-2.3 in SL. Snout short, dorsal profile of head steep anteriorly, somewhat concave above eye. Fifth to eighth dorsal-fin spine longest. Last anal-fin spine longest, longer than longest dorsal-fin spine. Caudal fin emarginate but moderately forked in large adults. Scales minute. Color: many large to medium-sized orange to bronze spots scattered laterally on body with a bright yellow spot at base of last few dorsal-fin rays. Size: maximum length 45 cm. Distribution: Andaman Sea and western Pacific from Thailand, Vietnam, southern China, Philippines, Indonesia, and southern Japan. Remarks: inhabits shallow coastal waters, often in brackish waters especially sea grass and mangrove areas. Marketed fresh. (Seishi Kimura)