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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible ⚠️ Venomous 🌡️ Tropical

Goldspotted spinefoot

Siganus punctatus Schneider & Forster, 1801
Max Length
40 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
Trophic Level
2
Depth
1–40 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
26.00/100

📖 Overview

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 . Adults on deep coastal reefs, juveniles in shallow estuaries .

Scientific Name
Siganus punctatus
Authority
Schneider & Forster, 1801
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
40 cm
Depth Range
1–40 m
Latitude
25°S – 30°N
Trophic Level
2
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
26.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 7; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 13. Color pattern changes with age; iris silver with 8-10 orange spots. Juveniles with a deep brown patch straddling the lateral line; the spot becoming obscured with increase in size. Stout, venomous spines not so pungent. Preopercular angle 87°-105°. Strong scales fully cover the cheeks. Midline of thorax scaled but not pelvic ridges.: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Goldspotted spinefoot is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Goldspotted spinefoot is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Spawn in pairs. Spawning occurs around either new or full moons or both .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 40 m . Tropical; 30°N - 25°S, 92°E - 160°W South China Sea, Philippines, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Ogasawara Islands, Mariana Islands, Palau (Belau), Caroline Islands, Kapingamarangi Islands, Nauru and Niue.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
2
🐠 Schooling
Food Items

benthic algae (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01445 × L3.07 (TL)
Max TL
40cm
Dorsal Spines
13
Dorsal Rays
10
Anal Spines
7
Anal Rays
9
Vertebrae
13

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2015

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
26.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
30°N – 25°S
Described By
Schneider & Forster, 1801

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked — Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.5 g
Omega-3 (total) 101 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Goldspotted spinefoot has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 27 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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View all observations for Goldspotted spinefoot ↗
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