Magnificent rabbitfish (Siganus magnificus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Siganus magnificus · Authority: (Burgess, 1977) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273917.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Lo magnificus Burgess, 1977.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273917 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 24 cm · Depth range: 2–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 19.3 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Inhabits coral reefs and feeds on algae and small invertebrates. Adults occur in pairs, juveniles secretive in corals (Ref. 48637). Sometimes solitary (Ref. 90102). Maximum depth from Ref. 027115.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 4628) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Siganus-magnificus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Siganus magnificus (Burgess, 1977) 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 154703) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/154703/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2390372) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2390372/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The magnificent foxface was first formally described in 1977 as Lo magnificus by the American ichthyologist Warren E. Burgess with the type locality given as Phuket in the Andaman Sea off Thailand. Burgess placed it in the genus Lo alongside the other "foxfaced rabbitfishes" but this genus is now subsumed within the genus Siganus, although some workers still treat it as a subgenus. S. magnificus has an allopatric range to the closely related foxface rabbitfish (S. vulpinus), which has a wide Western Pacific distribution. The specific name magnificus means "splendid", a reference to the beautiful coloration of this fish.

Description

The magnificent rabbitfish has an oval compressed body with a relatively elongated snout. There are 13 spines and 10 soft rays in its long dorsal fin, while the anal fin has 7 spines and 9 soft rays. It has a slightly forked caudal fin. This species attains a maximum total length of 24 cm, but it is rarely longer than 20 cm.

The background color of the body is white, broken by a large black saddle-like blotch with fine spots on its margins. There is also a black facial stripe. The pectoral, anal and caudal fins have bright yellow margins, while the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin has a pale red margin.

Distribution and habitat

The magnificent rabbitfish is endemic to the Andaman Sea. It has been recorded with certainty from the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar, and the Surin and Similan Islands in Thailand, it may also occur around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the west but it has not been searched for there. Reports of this species from Java and Sumatra require confirmation. It is found at depths between 2 and 30 m on coral reefs, most commonly on sheltered reefs among branching corals.

Biology

Signus magnificus has a diet of algae and small invertebrates. The adults are frequently encountered in pairs, while the secretive juveniles tend to occur solitarily and use the coral to provide shelter. Magnificent rabbitfishes are thought to have a lifespan of about 10–12 years, becoming sexually mature at 2 years old. The pelagic larval stage of this species means that there is likely only to be a single population.

Conservation and utilization

The magnificent rabbitfish is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. The reefs it is found on in Thailand are far enough offshore to be relatively safe from development and many are in protected areas. This species is collected for the aquarium trade.

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