SIGANIDAE


Siganus javus, 6.5 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Siganus javus
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Streaked Spinefoot

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

Body relatively deep, its depth 2.0-2.3 in SL. Last dorsal fin spine 1.2-1.6 in fourth to sixth spine. Except for short first spine, all anal-fin spines similar in length. Soft parts of dorsal and anal fins moderately high, longest anal-fin ray subequal to longest anal-fin spine. Caudal fin slightly concave. Color: dark bronze on dorsal half, becoming paler ventrally; many gun-metal blue spots on head and dorsal half of body; silvery blue undulating lines on ventral half of body. Size: maximum size 50 cm, commonly to 30 cm. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific from the Persian Gulf through the Malay Peninsula eastward to Vanuatu, northward to the Philippines, and southward to northern Australia. (Keiichi Matsuura)