Peppered spinefoot (Siganus punctatissimus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Siganus punctatissimus · Authority: Fowler & Bean, 1929 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273921.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Siganus punctattissimus Fowler & Bean, 1929.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273921 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 35 cm · Common length: 25 cm · Depth range: 12–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 32.7 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Inhabits lagoon and channel reefs (Ref. 9710), usually near steep slopes and harbours (Ref. 48637). Usually seen in pairs. Feeds on benthic seaweeds (Ref. 9813).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 4620) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Siganus-punctatissimus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

587 georeferenced occurrence records for Siganus punctatissimus are published through GBIF from 9 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 78 distinct locations from a sample of 587 records, omitting 7 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 (457); Solomon Islands (38); Palau (36); Indonesia (25); Philippines (17); Papua New Guinea (11); Micronesia (Federated States of) (1); New Caledonia (1); Chinese Taipei (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2390257) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2390257&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273921 (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 punctatissimus Fowler & Bean, 1929 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 69738727) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/69738727/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2390257) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2390257/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The peppered spinefoot was first formally described in 1929 by the American ichthyologists Henry Weed Fowler and Barton Appler Bean with the type locality given as Masinloc Bay in Zambales Province in the Philippines. The specific name punctatissimus means "very spotted, a reference to the body being covered in tiny grey spots.

The peppered spinefoot has a deep and laterally compressed body, its standard length being a little more than twice its depth. The dorsal profile of head is weakly convex, although there is a weak indentation immediately in front of eye and another underneath the chin, creating a protruding snout. The front nostril has a low rim which expands to a wide flap at its rear which extends half-way to the rear nostril. There is a recumbent spine to the front of the dorsal fin which is imbedded in the nape. 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 thin lobes which have pointed tips. This species attains a maximum total length of 35 cm, although 25 cm is more typical. The overall colour is dark purplish-brown with the head and body covered in tiny close-set pale dots. The yellowish caudal fin has a brownish margin.

The peppered spinefoot has a wide Western Pacific distribution from western Indonesia north to the southern Ryukyu Islands, east to Solomon Islands and Micronesia south to the reefs of the Western Australia shelf and the northern Great Barrier Reef off northern Queensland. It is found at depths between 12 and 30 m in lagoon and channel reefs, normally in the vicinity of reef slopes and harbours.

The peppered spinefoot live as pairs once they are adult, the adults feed on benthic macroalgae. The habitat and behaviour of juveniles is not known. 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 peppered spinefoot is caught by trawling and is sold in small quantities in fish markets in the Philippines.

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