Masked spinefoot (Siganus puellus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Siganus puellus · Authority: (Schlegel, 1852) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273920.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Amphacanthus cyanotaenia Bleeker, 1853; Amphacanthus hexacanthus (Barton, 1950); Amphacanthus ocularis Thiollière, 1857; Amphacanthus puellus Schlegel, 1852; Siganus hexacanthus Barton, 1950; Siganus sevenlineatus Borodin, 1930; Siganus zoniceps Seale, 1906; Teuthis puella (Schlegel, 1852).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273920 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 38 cm · Common length: 25 cm · Depth range: 1–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 28 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Occurs in shallow, coral-rich areas of clear lagoons and seaward reefs. Individuals up to 7 cm SL forms large schools in shallows, lagoons and outer reef flats, particularly in areas dominated by luxurious growths of Acropora . Adults occur in pairs. Juveniles feed on filamentous algae, adults on algae, tunicates, and sponges (Ref. 9813, 48637). Can inflict painful stings (Ref. 4690).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 4617) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Siganus-puellus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

2,560 georeferenced occurrence records for Siganus puellus are published through GBIF from 19 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 208 distinct locations from a sample of 2,560 records, omitting 28 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (1,125); Micronesia (Federated States of) (337); Indonesia (295); New Caledonia (227); Palau (151).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2390277) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2390277&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273920 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Siganus puellus (Schlegel, 1852) 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 69738690) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/69738690/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2390277) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2390277/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The masked spinefoot was first formally described in 1852 as Ampacanthus puellus by the German zoologist Hermann Schlegel with the type locality given as Ternate in the Molucca Islands in Indonesia. The specific name puellus means "a small boy". Schlegel did not explain why he chose that name.

The masked spinefoot has a compressed body. The depth of its body fits between 2.3 and 2.6 times into its standard length. It has a symmetrical wedge-shaped head with a slightly protruding snout. The front nostril is flanged, the flange growing in to a triangle shaped flap to the rear. There is a recumbent spine to the front of the dorsal fin. Like all rabbitfishes, the dorsal fin has 13 spines and 10 soft rays while the anal fin has 7 spines and 9 soft rays. The fin spines are robust and hold venom glands. The caudal fin is strongly forked, especially in adults, with acutely pointed lobes. This species attains a maximum total length of 38 cm, although 25 cm is more typical. The upper body is yellow shading to light blue to white on the lower body. It is marked with sinuous blue lines that are vertical towards the head and horizontal towards the tail. These are replaced with blue spots towards the abdomen. There is a broad diagonal black band that runs through the eye and extends from the chin to the nape. Over the eye, this band breaks up into black spots. The colour of the fins is yellow.

The masked spinefoot has a wide Indo-West Pacific range which extends from the Cocos-Keeling Islands and the outer reefs of northwestern Shelf of Western Australia through Indonesia to the Ryukyu Islands and Kiribati, to southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. It is found to depths down to 30 m in the shallow waters of clear lagoon rich in corals and on seaward reefs.

Masked spinefoot juveniles school, especially over areas dominated by Acropora branching corals. The adults live in pairs on the reef, pairing starting at lengths around 7 cm when they move into deeper water on the reef and near drop offs. The juveniles feed on filamentous algae while the adults feeds on macroalgae and on sponges of the order Monaxonida. 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.

The masked spinefoot is caught by spearfishing and in fish traps and small amounts are regularly found in fish markets. It makes occasional appearances in the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Masked spinefoot — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masked_spinefoot (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.