Rabbitfish

ID points

• Small blunt rounded snout, like a rabbit's mouth
• Venomous spines along the front edge of both dorsal and anal fins
• Colour switches rapidly to mottled camouflage when alarmed

Basics

Family

Siganidae

Length

20–35 cm

Depth

1-30 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Shallow coral and rocky reefs of the Indo-Pacific

Diet

Algae, seagrass

Easily confused with

French AngelfishEvery scale on the black body is rimmed with goldBlue TangRoyal blue all over, with a black palette-shaped marking on the sideEmperor AngelfishAdults have fine parallel diagonal lines alternating yellow and blue

Fun fact

The Rabbitfish has a small rabbit-like mouth made for cropping seaweed, and it works as the lawnmower of the coral reef. Its dorsal, pelvic and anal fins all carry venomous spines, and a jab from one is intensely painful.