Golden-lined spinefoot
📖 Overview
Adults inhabit shallow areas, typically 5 m; juveniles common around estuarine areas including mangrove areas and seagrass flats; adults in protected waters such as lagoons and bays in the vicinity of rocky substrata or reefs (resting on rubble or sandy bottoms). Form schools that diminish with age, down to 10-25 fish by adult stage, although congregations may consist of several thousand fish during spawning period. Feed by scraping encrusting algae from beach rock or pavement areas of coral reefs or by browsing on larger coarse algae. Caught mainly with set nets and fixed traps; common in markets where it is sold fresh .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 7; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 13. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body deep and compressed; greatest body depth 1.9-2.2 in SL; longest dorsal-fin spines 4th to 8th, a little longer (1.1-1.3 times) the last dorsal-fin spine. Colour blue dorsally, silvery below; horizontal golden bronze bands, some broken, running along single sides of trunk, breaking up into spots near bases of dorsal and anal fins and on caudal peduncle, and (except in specimens from South India), spots also on nape; iris silvery and unspotted. Similar with Siganus guttatus in having a diagonal line across cheek from below orbit to corner of mouth, a bright yellow spot about size of orbit on sides at base of last few rays of dorsal fin, and a bluish caudal fin with rows of golden spots which appear as 3 or 4 cross bars on the folded fin. Differs with Siganus guttatus mainly by having mainly lines instead of spots .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Golden-lined spinefoot is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Golden-lined spinefoot is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Smallest female to spawn was 23 cm, the largest 33 cm SL. Spawning apparently occurs not until the fish is 2 years old.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 25 m , usually 0 - 20 m . Tropical; 25°C - 29°C ; 27°N - 30°S, 71°E - 171°E West Pacific: Maldives, Laccadive Archipelago, India, Sri Lanka, Ogasawara Islands (Japan), eastern Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Philippines; Palau and Yap in Micronesia.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Golden-lined spinefoot is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked — Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 122 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Golden-lined spinefoot has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Gold-lined Rabbitfish · Golden Lined Rabbitfish · Golden spinefoot · Golden-lined spinefoot · Goldenlined Spinefoot · Goldenspot spinefoot · Goldlined Rabbitfish · Lined Rabbit-fish · Lined Rabbitfish · goldenlined spinefish |
| 🏳️Catalan | Gitano ratllat |
| 🌍CES | králíčkovec pruhovaný |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Stribet kaninfisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Linierter Kaninchenfisch |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Juovakaniinikala |
| 🇫🇷French | Diable de mer · Diable de mer, Picot rayé, Vrai picot · Picot rayé · Picot à lignes d'or · Sigan raies d'or · Sigan raies dor · Vrai picot |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce coniglio lineato |
| 🌍MSA | Belais · Belait · Belaris · Belibas · Bliais · Bonang-bonang · Debam · Dengkis garis emas · Gelibas · Kelang · Ketang · Ketang lada · Lambai · Leban · Lumban · Masadar karang · Samadar |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Peixe-coelho-de-linhas-amarelas |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Sigano rayas doradas |
| 🌍TGL | Balanglin · Samaral |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 金線藍子魚 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amphacanthus lineatus | Valenciennes | 1835 | Synonym |
| Siganus aurolineatus | Ogilby | 1912 | Synonym |
| Teuthis flava | De Vis | 1884 | Synonym |
| Teuthis lineata | Valenciennes | 1835 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 8 records indexed .
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