Siganus sutor

Siganus sutor (Valenciennes, 1835)
Shoemaker spinefoot

photo by Iranian Fisheries Research Organization (IFRO)

Family:	Siganidae (Rabbitfishes)
Max. size:	45 cm SL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 3 years
Environment:	reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 50 m
Distribution:	Indiant Ocean: from East Africa, Seychelles, Comoro Islands, Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius and Rodriquez Island; East Andaman Sea off Thailand and Myanmar; Bali, Indonesia.
Diagnosis:	Dorsal spines (total): 13-14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 7-7; Anal soft rays: 9-10; Vertebrae: 23-23. Coloration highly variable; influenced by substrate's color and mood of the fish. Upper greenish to sandy brown, paler below. Color patterns extend to the fins. Spines slender, pungent and venomous. Preopercular angle 88°-98°; cheeks with few scales; midline of thorax without scales between pelvic ridges. Long flap of anterior nostril shortens with increasing age.
Biology:	Inhabits inshore areas and inner reefs (Ref. 9710). Often occurs among seagrasses to browse on 'aufwuchs'. Forms schools. A food fish that is occasionally poisonous (Ref. 4537).
IUCN Red List Status:	Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 July 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:	venomous

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