SIGANIDAE


Siganus magnificus, 15.7 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Siganus magnificus
(Burgess, 1977)
Magnificent Rabbitfish

D XIII, 10; A VII, 9; P1 16; P2 I, 3, I.

Body oval but relatively slender, compressed, its depth 2.3 in SL. Snout strongly tublate. Sixth dorsal-fin spine longest. Last anal-fin spine longest, subequal to longest dorsal-fin spine. Caudal fin emarginate. Scales minute. Color: a black or dark brown band running from first or second dorsal-fin spine base through eye to chin; posterior ventrolateral head and anterior trunk white; posterior trunk and tail black or dark brown dorsally, paler ventrally; dorsal fin white or gray with red streaks on membrane of spinous part and red margin on soft part; anal, caudal and pectoral fins yellow; pelvic fin white. Size: maximum length 24 cm SL. Distribution: endemic to Andaman Sea. Remarks: similar to western Pacific species, Siganus unimaculatus (Evermann and Seal, 1907) and S. vulpinus (Schlegel and Müller, 1845), but distinguished from them by having white breast. (Seishi Kimura)