Blackeye rabbitfish (Siganus puelloides)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Siganidae · Genus: Siganus.

Accepted name: Siganus puelloides · Authority: Woodland & Randall, 1979 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273919.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273919 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Siganus puelloides. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 31 cm · Depth range: 1–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 21 of 100.

FishBase notes: Paired adults live around rocks and coral reefs and feed on sessile colonial tunicates, monaxonid sponges, and benthic algae. Solitary or in groups (Ref. 90102).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 4619) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Siganus-puelloides.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

37 georeferenced occurrence records for Siganus puelloides are published through GBIF from 4 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 16 distinct locations from a sample of 37 records; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Maldives (31); India (3); Thailand (2); Palau (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2390312) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2390312&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273919 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Siganus puelloides Woodland & Randall, 1979 as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 117007082) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/117007082/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2390312) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2390312/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The blackeye rabbitfish was first formally described in 1979 by the ichthyologists David J. Woodland and John E. Randall with the type locality given as Vilingili Island, part of Male Atoll in the Maldives. The specific name puelloides refers to its similarity to its Pacific Ocean congener the masked spinefoot (S. puellus).

Description

The blackeye rabbitfish has 13 spines and 10 soft rays in the dorsal fin while the anal fin has 7 spines and 9 soft rays. There is a forward pointing spine which is embedded in the nape. It has a deeply forked caudal fin. This species attains a maximum total length of 31 cm.

The colour is light blue on the upper body and silvery on the lower body. The head body and the caudal peduncle are covered in yellow spots, those on the upper body are round but on the lower body they merge into lines. There is a brown band that runs across the chin.

Distribution and habitat

The blackeye rabbitfish is found in the tropical Indian Ocean. It is found in the Seychelles, the Maldives, the Andaman Islands and the Andaman Sea coasts of Myanmar and Thailand. It occurs at depths between 1 and 20 m in coral reef lagoons and on outer reefs.

Biology

The blackeye rabbitfish is normally encountered in pairs, although single individuals and schools have also been recorded. Unlike most other rabbitfish animal matter is important in their diet and they are known to feed on sessile colonial tunicates and sponges of the order Monaxonida, as well as benthic algae. This species produces venom in the spines of its fins. In a study of the venom of a congener it was found that rabbitfish venom was similar to the venom of stonefishes.

Fisheries

The blackeye rabbitfish is sometimes caught by spear fishers and any caught may be sold fresh.

Source: Wikipedia: Blackeye rabbitfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackeye_rabbitfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.