Fish of the Siganus genus of the Siganidae (rabbitfishes or spinefoots) family of the suborder Acanthuroidei of the Perciformes order of the Acanthopterygii superorder.
(Marbled spinefoot. Photo by © Roberto Pillon. fishbase.org)
Marbled spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) was first described by the Swedish naturalist and traveler Pehr Forsskål (1732-1763), the name of the species was appropriated after his death in 1775.
It inhabits the depth of 2-40 meters. It is a schooling fish. The maximum recorded length is 27 cm, specimens up to 20 cm long are more common. It feeds on algae. When a fish is scared, spots appear on its body.
(Marbled spinefoot. Photo © btauchen2003.dyndns.org)
It entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. It has been found in the Adriatic Sea several times.
Sharp thin spines in the dorsal fin contain venom, pricks are very painful.
Names of marbled spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) in other languages as follows:
Αγριόσαλπα άσπρη (Agriosaljpa aspri) (Greek), Siguro (Spanish), Pesce coniglio (Italian), Rotmeer-Kaninchenfisch (German), Sygan marmurkowy (Polish), Macua (Portuguese), Золотополосый сиган (Zolotopolosyj sigan) (Russian), Bodljikava mramorna riba (Serbian, Croatian), Çilliçarpan balığı (Turkish), Poisson-lapin (French).