Goldspotted spinefoot (Siganus punctatus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Siganus punctatus · Authority: (Schneider & Forster, 1801) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273922.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Amphacanthus capricornensis (Whitley, 1926); Amphacanthus chrysospilos Bleeker, 1852; Amphacanthus hexagonatus Bleeker, 1854; Amphacanthus melanospilos Bleeker, 1855; Amphacanthus punctatus Schneider & Forster, 1801; Harpurus inermis Forster, 1844; Siganas hexagonata (Bleeker, 1854); Siganus capricornensis Whitley, 1926; Siganus chrysospilos (Bleeker, 1852); Siganus chrysospilus (Bleeker, 1852); Siganus fuscus Griffith & Smith, 1834; Siganus hexagonata (Bleeker, 1854); Teuthis chrysospilus (Bleeker, 1852); Teuthis hexagonata (Bleeker, 1854); Teuthis hexagonatus (Bleeker, 1854); Teuthis melanospilus (Bleeker, 1855); Teuthis punctata (Schneider & Forster, 1801); Teuthis punctatus (Schneider & Forster, 1801).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273922 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 40 cm · Common length: 30 cm · Depth range: 1–40 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 30 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Occurs in clear lagoons and seaward reefs. Juveniles live in schools of up to about 50 fish with pairing commencing as small as 15 cm, but fish may still be schooling at 22 cm SL; older fish live in pairs. Feeds on benthic algae (Ref. 9813). Adults on deep coastal reefs, juveniles in shallow estuaries (Ref. 48637).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 4621) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Siganus-punctatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

2,430 georeferenced occurrence records for Siganus punctatus are published through GBIF from 28 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 255 distinct locations from a sample of 2,430 records, omitting 35 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 (1,675); New Caledonia (180); Fiji (118); Indonesia (94); Philippines (57).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2390198) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2390198&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273922 (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 punctatus (Schneider & Forster, 1801) 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 69738738) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/69738738/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2390198) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2390198/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Siganus punctatus was first formally described in 1801 as Amphacanthus punctatus by Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider and Johann Reinhold Forster with the type locality given as Nomuka Island in the Ha'apai Group of Tonga. The specific name punctatus means "spotted", a reference to the golden spots on the head, body and tail.

Siganus punctatus has a laterally compressed, deep body which has a depth which fits into its standard length between 1.9 and 2.3 times. The head has a straight dorsal profile, it runs from the forehead to the snout at an angle of 45°, while the ventral profile is slightly indented underneath the chin. In fish of less than 13 cm standard length the front nostril has a flap extending half-way to the rear nostril, this flap is reduced to a low rim with a relict posterior peak once the standard length has reached 15 cm. A recumbent spine is to the front of the dorsal fin, it 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 emarginate in individuals with a standard length of less than 13 cm as the fish grows it slowly changes to become deeply forked with the tips of the lobes broadly rounded. This species attains a maximum total length of 40 cm, although 30 cm is more typical. The overall colour is greyish with a dense pattern of brown spots with darker margins over the head, body and fins. There is sometimes a pale saddle on the caudal peduncle and a large ocellus to the rear of the upper margin of the gill cover. The spots on juveniles are fewer in number and larger in size. There is frequently a very narrow yellow margin to the caudal fin.

Siganus punctatus has a wide Indo-West Pacific distribution extending from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean east to Samoa, north to Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands of Japan and south to Australia. In Australia its range runs from Rottnest Island in Western Australia north and east along the northern tropical coast and then south on the east coast as far as North West Solitary Island in New South Wales, it is also found at Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef off Western Australia, the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea and in the Coral Sea at Coringa-Herald Cays and Lihou Reef. It occurs down to 40 m in depth in clear lagoons and on seaward reefs as adults while the juveniles school in estuaries.

Siganus punctatus live in pairs on reefs as adults while the juveniles aggregate in schools of up to 50 fish, the size of the schools decline as the fish mature and they begin to pair off once they have attained a standard length of around 15 cm, but fish as large as 22 cm may still be in schools. They feed on 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.

Siganus punctatus is caught by spearfishing or in fish traps and the catch is sold as fresh fish. It is occasionally found in the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Siganus punctatus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siganus_punctatus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.