White-spotted Rabbitfish

Siganus canaliculatus has a moderately slender, laterally compressed body, the standard length being 2.3 to 2.8 times its depth. The dorsal profile of the head is weakly to notably concave over the eyes with a pointed snout. The front nostril has a flap, in juveniles this covers the rear nostril, although it becomes shorter as the fish grows and is completely absent in the oldest fishes. The dorsal fin has 13 spines and 10 soft rays while the anal fin has 7 spines and 9 soft rays. The front spine on the dorsal fin points forwards. The caudal fin is nearly emarginate in smaller individuals of less than 10 cm (3.9 in) standard length becoming forked in larger fish. This species attains a maximum total length of 40 cm (16 in), although 20 cm (7.9 in) is more typical. The colour and pattern of the white-spotted spinefoot is very variable. It can be greenish grey to yellow brown and is marked with 100-200 perlescent blue to whitish spots on the nape and anterior part of the body, these are similar in size to a match-head on the lower flanks. There are 2 to 3 rows between the first spine of the dorsal fin and the lateral line, which are roughly one sixth the size of the eye, and another 10 or so rows between the uppermost point of the lateral line and the base of the first spine in the anal fin. …

Siganus canaliculatus has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution, ranging from the Persian Gulf to the Philippines and New Guinea, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to northern Australia. It is found at depths down to 50 m (160 ft) with adults living in inshore waters, on algae reefs, in estuaries and in large lagoons where there is algae growing over rubble. The juveniles live in coral reef flats and shallow bays.

Siganus canaliculatus is an important quarry species for commercial fisheries. In the Persian Gulf it is considered to be a good quality food fish, even though it is a rather small species. It is caught using bottom trawls and seine nets in coastal waters wherever it occurs. In the Persian Gulf, this species is caught largely by trapping in fences made up of nets in the inter-tidal zone and dome-shaped metal traps called gargoors. The fish landed are sold fresh in large numbers. This species is also taken as bycatch. The Teochews of Singapore and Malaysia are particularly fond of this fish, which they refer to as pek tor her (Chinese: 白肚鱼; pinyin: báitùyú; lit. 'white rabbit fish'). It is typically steamed and eaten with rice or as part of the Teochew porridge spread. The white-spotted spinefoot is particularly popular during Chinese New Year, when the fish is heavy with milt and roe and its consumption is considered auspicious. For this reason, it is also known as pai ni her (Chinese: 拜年鱼; pinyin: bàiniányú; lit. 'Chinese New Year fish'). The white-spotted spinefoot has been used for mariculture in some areas in which it occurs because it has herbivorous habits, grows rapidly and is economically valuable. In some parts of this species' range the stock has been overfished.

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