Vermiculated spinefoot

{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = Vermiculate rabbitfish (Siganus vermiculatus) - 50154095456.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Larson, H. |date=2012 |title=''Siganus vermiculatus'' |volume=2012 |article-number=e.T196436A2457345 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T196436A2457345.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | taxon = Siganus vermiculatus | authority = ([[Achille Valenciennes|Valenciennes]], 1835) | synonyms = * ''Amphacanthus vermiculatus'' Valenciennes, 1835 * ''Teuthis vermiculata'' (Valenciennes, 1835) * ''Teuthis vermiculatus'' (Valenciennes, 1835) * ''Amphacanthus russelii'' Valenciennes, 1835 * ''Siganus shortlandensis'' [[Alvin Seale|Seale]], 1906 | synonyms_ref = <ref name = FishBase>{{FishBase|Siganus|vermiculatus|month=June|year=2021}}</ref> }}

The '''vermiculated spinefoot''' ('''''Siganus vermiculatus'''''), also known as '''maze rabbitfish''', '''scribbled spinefoot''' or '''vermiculate rabbitfish''', is a species of marine [[ray-finned fish]], a [[rabbitfish]] belonging to the [[Family (taxonomy)|family]] [[Siganidae]]. Like all rabbitfishes, it has venomous spines on the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins. It is a reef associated fish species of the [[Indo-West Pacific]] region. It is a common commercially important fish in many tropical countries. [[File:Siganus vermiculatus mangaluru.jpg|thumb|''Siganus vermiculatus'' from Mangaluru, Karnataka, India]] ==Taxonomy== The vermiculated spinefoot was first formally [[Species description|described]] in 1835 as ''Amphacanthus vermiculatus'' by the French [[zoologist]] [[Achille Valenciennes]] with the [[Type locality (biology)|type locality]] given as [[New Guinea]].<ref name = CofF>{{Cof genus | genus = Siganus | access-date = 7 September 2021}}</ref> The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] ''vermiculatus'' refers to the vermiculated or maze pattern on the bodies of the living fish.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web | url = https://etyfish.org/acanthuriformes2/| title = Order Acanthuriformes (part 2): Families Ephippidae, Leiognathidae, Scatophagidae, Antigoniidae, Siganidae, Caproidae, Luvaridae, Zanclidae and Acanthuridae | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | editor1= Christopher Scharpf | editor2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp |date = 12 January 2021 | access-date = 7 September 2021 | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara}}</ref>

==Description== [[File:Vermiculate rabbitfish (Siganus vermiculatus) - 50154332237.jpg|left|thumb|In Indonesia]] The vermiculated spinefoot has a deep and laterally compressed body which has a depth which fits 1.9 to 2.2 times into its [[standard length]]. The nape is bulging with a slight indentation above each eye. The deep, blunt snout also bulges. The front nostril has a flange which is slightly widened to its rear. There is a recumbent spine to the front of the [[dorsal fin]].<ref name = FAO>{{cite book | editor1 = Carpenter, K.E. | editor2 = Niem, V.H. | name-list-style = and | title =FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 6. Bony fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine crocodiles, sea turtles, sea snakes and marine mammal | publisher = FAO Rome | year = 2001 | chapter = Siganidae | author = D.J. Woodland | page = 3646 | isbn = 92-5-104587-9 |url = http://www.fao.org/3/y0870e/y0870e28.pdf}}</ref> 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 hold venom glands.<ref name = FishBase/> The [[caudal fin]] is emarginate.<ref name = FAO/> This species attains a maximum total length of {{cvt|45|cm}}, although {{cvt|30|cm}} is more typical.<ref name = FishBase/> The body is covered in a grey and whitish complex maze-like or reticulate pattern with a patch of yellow on the head and spots on the caudal fin.<ref name="FofA">{{cite web |author=Bray, D.J. |year=2018 |title=''Siganus vermiculatus'' |url=https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1888#summary |access-date=7 September 2021 |work=Fishes of Australia |publisher=[[Museums Victoria]]}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat== [[File:Siganus vermiculatus.jpg|left|thumb|In [[Fiji]]]] The vermiculated spinefoot is found from southern India and Sri Lanka eastwards into the western Pacific Ocean as far east as [[Palau]] and [[Guam]], south to Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia and Australia.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> In Australia it has been reported from [[Darnley Island]] and [[Townsville]] in northern [[Queensland]] but its presence in Australian waters needs to be confirmed.<ref name = FofA/> It is found in shallow, coastal waters, especially estuaries. Both adults and juveniles are commonest{{Clarify|date=August 2022}} shallow, sediment-laden waters in [[mangroves]], following the tide in and out. Adults are occasionally encountered in clear water in the vicinity of reefs or above sandy substrates.<ref name = FofA/>

==Biology== [[File:Siganus vermiculatus juvenil.png|thumb|Juvenile]] The vermiculated spinefoot browses algae which is growing on seagrass, the roost of mangrove and on rocks. The adults gather in aggregations of several hundred individuals to spawn in the summer, the pawn in pairs laying eggs which adhere to the substrate.<ref name="FishBase" /> The lunar cycle governs spawning behaviour.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />

=== Venom === This species produces [[venom]] in the spines of its fins.<ref name="FishBase" /> In a study of the venom of a [[Congener (biology)|congener]] (''[[Siganus fuscescens|S. fuscescens]]'') it was found that rabbitfish venom was similar to the venom of [[stonefishes]].<ref name="venom">{{cite journal |author1=Kiriake A |author2=Ishizaki S |author3=Nagashima Y |author4=Shiomi K |year=2017 |title=Occurrence of a stonefish toxin-like toxin in the venom of the rabbitfish ''Siganus fuscescens'' |journal=[[Toxicon]] |volume=140 |pages=139–146 |doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.10.015 |pmid=29055787|s2cid=205439876 }}</ref>

==Fisheries== The vermiculated spinefoot is a large fast growing species and is sold fresh in markets in India, Sri Lanka and Fiji where it commpans{{Clarify|date=August 2022}} premium prices.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> They are caught using nets and fixed traps.<ref name = FAO/>

== References == {{Reflist}} *[http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Siganus_vermiculatus/classification/ Animaldiversity Web] *[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0044848676901472 Science direct]

==External links== * {{sealifephotos|273927}}

[[Category:Fish of Thailand]] [[Category:Siganidae]] [[Category:Fish described in 1835]] [[Category:Taxa named by Achille Valenciennes]]