Blue-spotted spinefoot
Siganus corallinus
Foxface
Siganus vulpinus
About
The foxface gets its name from a long, pointed snout that gives it a fox-like face among the reef fish. It grows to about 25 cm, usually closer to 20 cm.
Also known as: siganus vulpinus, common foxface, foxface rabbitfish, foxface spinefoot, rabbitfish, spinefoot
- Length
- 20 cm · max 25 cm
- Depth
- 1–30 m
How to tell it apart
The closest look-alike is the blotched foxface, which shares the same reefs. Check under the rear dorsal fin: the blotched foxface has a large black spot there, while the foxface does not.
Appearance
Its body is flattened side to side and bright yellow, with a white patch on the head and front of the body. A dark chocolate-brown band runs from the mouth, through the eye, up to the front of the dorsal fin, the fin along its back, and a dark patch covers the chest. The snout is tubular and the tail fin only slightly forked. Fin spines along its back and belly carry venom glands.
Habitat
It lives on lagoon and seaward reefs with rich coral growth, especially around branching staghorn corals, from near the surface down to 30 m.
Behaviour
Adults are usually seen alone or in pairs, staying close to a patch of branching coral they treat as their own. Young fish sometimes gather in large schools, grazing on algae at the base of dead coral branches. It feeds mainly on algae and zooplankton, tiny drifting animals.
Is it dangerous?
venomous
Did you know?
A near-twin, the blotched foxface, differs only by a black spot under its dorsal fin, lives alongside it on the same reefs, and shows no separate line in its family tree - some scientists think the two may really be one species wearing two colour patterns.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
