Scientific Name
Siganus vermiculatus

Common Name
Vermiculated spinefoot

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 7; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 13. Body bluish white; head brown to brownish or golden yellow with irregular blue lines. Preopercular angle 91?-102?; strong overlapping scales cover cheeks; midline of thorax scaled, not pelvic ridges. Anterior nostril with low flange, broadened slightly posteriorly. Spines stout, blunt or pungent, and venomous.

Classification

Classified By

Valenciennes, 1835

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Rabbitfishes (Siganidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: India, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Belau [=Palau], Guam, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, ?New Caledonia, ?Western Australia, ?Pohnpei, Caroline Islands, ?Ebon Island and Marshall Islands.

Range

30°N - 30°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

19 °C

Water Temperature To

38 °C

Depth From - meters

15 m

Depth To - meters

20 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 15 - 20 m (Ref. 48637)

Trophic Level

2 s.e. 0.00 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

45.0 cm

Common Length

30.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: likely future use; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (20 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.3)

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 4537)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated