Orange-spotted spinefoot (Siganus guttatus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Siganus guttatus · Authority: (Bloch, 1787) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273913.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Amphacanthus concatenatus Valenciennes, 1835; Amphacanthus firmamentum Valenciennes, 1835; Amphacanthus guttatus (Bloch, 1787); Chaetodon guttatus Bloch, 1787; Siganus concatenatus (Valenciennes, 1835); Siganus concatinatus (Valenciennes, 1835); Teuthis concatenata (Valenciennes, 1835); Teuthis guttata (Bloch, 1787); Theutis concatenata (Valenciennes, 1835).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273913 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 42 cm · Common length: 25 cm · Depth range: 0–25 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 18.7 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Inhabits turbid inshore reefs among mangroves; tolerates or even prefers low salinities. Fry settles in seagrass beds around river mouths and adults enter and leave rivers with the tide, but also found on the drop-offs of inshore fringing reefs down to 6 m. Schools throughout life; school size for adults around 10 or 15. Feeds on benthic algae. Unlike other siganids, this species is reported to be active at night. Sold fresh in markets (Ref. 9813, 48637).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 4588) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Siganus-guttatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,064 georeferenced occurrence records for Siganus guttatus are published through GBIF from 22 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 153 distinct locations from a sample of 1,064 records, omitting 60 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: Thailand (254); Philippines (181); Malaysia (143); Indonesia (140); Chinese Taipei (85).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2390286) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2390286&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273913 (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 guttatus (Bloch, 1787) 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 69689777) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/69689777/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2390286) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2390286/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The orange-spotted spinefoot was first formally described in 1787 as Chaetodon guttatus by the German physician and naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch with the type locality given as the East Indies. The specific name guttatus means "spotted", a reference to the rusty spots on the flanks of this fish.

The orange-spotted spinefoot has a laterally compressed body which has a depth that is approximately half its standard length. The dorsal profile of the head is quite steep with a slight indentation to the front of the eyes. The front nostril has a slightly raised edge which is larger to the rear. There is a forward pointing spine in front of the dorsal fin which is imbedded in the nape. The dorsal fin has 13 spines and 10 soft rays while the anal fin has 7 spines and 9 soft rays. The caudal fin is emarginate, although it becomes moderately forked in the largest individuals. This species attains a maximum total length of 42 cm, although 25 cm is more typical. The overall colour of the body is dusky blue above and silvery below with a single large yellow-orange spot below the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin, near the caudal fin, and a number of smaller reddish-brown spots on the flanks.

The orange-spotted spinefoot has a wide Indo-West Pacific range which extends from the Andaman Islands and the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra to West Papua, north as far as the southern Ryukyu Islands. It is uncommon in Palau and has been recorded from Yap. They are found to depths of 35 m in shallow coastal waters where they inhabit reefs and mangroves and can tolerate a wide variety of salinities.

The orange-spotted spinefoot first settle as fry in beds of sea grass near the mouths of rivers, The adults enter and leave tidal river channels with the ebbing and flowing of the tide. Adults also occur on the drop-offs of coastal fringing reefs. This is a schooling species and adults form schools of between 10 and 15 fishes. Their diet is mainly benthic algae. Unusually for a rabbitfish, the orange-spotted spinefoot may be active at night. Spawning normally takes place at night too, around midnight.

The orange-spotted spinefoot has grooves in the spines of the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins which contain venom glands. The wound caused by these spines may be relatively painful to humans, but is usually not dangerous. The spines are used in self-defence. In a study of the venom of a congener it was found that rabbitfish venom was similar to the venom of stonefishes.

The orange-spotted spinefoot is fished for using set nets and fish traps. It is common in markets where it is sold as fresh fish. Rabbitfishes are considered good candidates for aquaculture, and there is mounting interest in the commercial culture of S. guttatus. It has mariculture potential because it is hardy in culture, there is an abundance of wild fry and spawners. The herbivorous diet gives it the potential to be an inexpensive source of protein for mass consumption. It also appears in the aquarium trade.

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