Parrotfish and Rabbitfish Codexery

Blotched foxface

A venomous rabbitfish with a single black spot on its flank.

Last updated

Blotched foxface

SuperJew · via Wikipedia: Blotched foxface · CC BY-SA 3.0

The blotched foxface is a marine fish species classified under the family Siganidae.[1] This fish can grow up to 20 cm in total length.[2] A large black mark beneath the dorsal fin's soft-rayed section sets this species apart.[2]

Scientific classification

  1. KingdomAnimalia
  2. PhylumChordata
  3. ClassActinopterygii
  4. DivisionTeleostei
  5. OrderAcanthuriformes
  6. FamilySiganidae
  7. GenusSiganus
  8. SpeciesSiganus unimaculatus

Named by (Evermann & Seale, 1907)

Close relatives

Other species of Siganus with a Codexery entry.

Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Blotched foxface (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 273925 (CC BY 4.0)

Conservation status

Data Deficient (DD)

Data Deficient: there is not enough information to place this species on the risk scale.

Population trend
Not held in our sources — see the assessment
Assessment published
2019

Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category

How big is it?

Size comparison: Blotched foxface and a personA 0.2 m long blotched foxface drawn to scale next to a 1.8 m tall person. Schematic shapes, not a likeness.0.2 m1.8 m

Largest length in the source, 0.2 m, next to a 1.8 m person.

Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Blotched foxface

Where the blotched foxface has been recorded

Where the blotched foxface has been recorded24 mapped locations from 111 GBIF occurrence records; marked places: Ryukyu Islands, Rowley Shoals, Timor SeaRyukyu IslandsRowley ShoalsTimor Sea

Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (111 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 4 inland records left out (institution coordinates). 1 isolated far-off record not drawn.

Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Biology and range

The body is bright yellow with the head and front part white, featuring a black band from the mouth to the start of the dorsal fin and another from the shoulder to the chest.[2] This species has two disjunct populations: one in the Western Pacific from Japan to the Philippines, and another restricted to the Rowley Shoals off northwestern Australia.[3] Venom glands are located in the spines of the fins.[2] On the upper side, from the middle to the rear, there is an irregular dark spot or blotch.[4]

Its habitat includes shallow coral reefs composed of Acropora and Porites, as well as coral rubble, at depths up to 14 m.[3] This species eats seaweeds, and adults form pairs—including same-sex pairs—that seem to be long-lasting.[2] Spawning likely occurs during the new moon, when large groups gather and lay demersal eggs.[5] Young individuals can form large schools.[5]

What the specialist sources record

The specific name unimaculatus refers to this spot or blotch on the side of the body.[6] The species was first formally described in 1907 as Lo unimaculatus by Barton Warren Evermann and Alvin Seale, with the type locality given as Bacon, Sorsogon, Philippines.[2] GBIF holds 267 occurrence records for this taxon.[7] The Fishes of Australia account states that the Blackbloth Spotface is distinguished from the Foxface Rabbitfish by a dark spot or irregular blotch on the upper side.[6]

The name combines uni, meaning "one", and maculatus, meaning "spotted".[8] Fishermen catch this species for food using spearfishing and drive-in nets.[3] It is also sold for use in aquariums.[3]

References

  1. World Register of Marine Species, Siganus unimaculatus (AphiaID 273925). CC BY 4.0. marinespecies.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Blotched foxface" (CC BY-SA 4.0) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Blotched foxface" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Carpenter, K.E., "Siganus unimaculatus", 2019 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Blotched foxface" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Dianne J. Bray, "Siganus unimaculatus", Fishes of Australia (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Blotched foxface" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Carpenter, K.E., "Siganus unimaculatus", 2019; Dianne J. Bray, "Siganus unimaculatus", Fishes of Australia; "Occurrence of a stonefish toxin-like toxin in the venom of the rabbitfish Siganus fuscescens", Toxicon, 2017, p. 139–146 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Dianne J. Bray, "Siganus unimaculatus", Fishes of Australia. facts only, no text reused. fishesofaustralia.net.au
  7. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence index, Siganus unimaculatus (taxon key 2390313). CC BY 4.0 (backbone); counts are facts. gbif.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Blotched foxface" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Phylogenetic relationships and natural hybridization in rabbitfishes (Teleostei: Siganidae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses", Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2007, p. 69–80; "Order Acanthuriformes (part 2): Families Ephippidae, Leiognathidae, Scatophagidae, Antigoniidae, Siganidae, Caproidae, Luvaridae, Zanclidae and Acanthuridae", The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database, 12 January (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Blotched foxface (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

Related entries

Named in this entry

SiganusPhylogenetics

Ranked in

Reef fish by maximum length

More in Parrotfish and Rabbitfish

Blue-spotted spinefootDusky spinefootPeppered spinefootFoxface rabbitfishGolden-lined spinefootSiganus punctatusMagnificent rabbitfishMasked spinefootMottled spinefootOrange-spotted spinefootSiganus canaliculatusSiganus doliatus

Test yourself

Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.

1. In what year was the blotched foxface first scientifically described?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 1907.

From the source: “The blotched foxace was first formally described in 1907 as Lo unimaculatus by the American ichthyologists Barton Warren Evermann and Alvin Seale with the type locality given as "Bacon, Sorsogon, east coast of southern Luzon Island, Philipp”

2. To which biological family does the blotched foxface belong?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Siganidae.

From the source: “The blotched foxface (Siganus unimaculatus), also called the blackblotch foxface or one-spot foxface, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae.”

3. Who first scientifically described the blotched foxface?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Barton Warren Evermann.

From the source: “The blotched foxace was first formally described in 1907 as Lo unimaculatus by the American ichthyologists Barton Warren Evermann and Alvin Seale with the type locality given as "Bacon, Sorsogon, east coast of southern Luzon Island, Philipp”

Answers checked against the source article

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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