Siganus Forsskål, 1775
Description
Body deep, head small; snout rounded; front nasal opening with a well-developed flap. Mouth small, upper lip high; maxillae ends before front of eye, usually beneath posterior nasal opening. Skin smooth, scales tiny, cycloid.
Distribution
Known from the Indo-Pacific Region, a couple of species have reached the eastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. Found in inshore waters close to the bottom in depths not exceeding 40 m, usually in small schools. These herbivorous fishes feed on seaweeds, mostly red algae (Lundberg, 1980). Repoduction occurs in June-August (Popper, 1979).
Species included on this CD-rom:
Siganus canaliculatus (Park)
Siganus javus (Linnaeus)