Orange-spotted spinefoot (Siganus guttatus) is a saltwater, brackish species recorded in Malaysia. It is mainly found over reef, coral, mangrove, at depths of ≤ 35 m. The main season in Malaysia runs winter.
Scientific name: Siganus guttatus · Water: Saltwater, Brackish · Season: Winter
Size: up to 42 cm
The orange-spotted spinefoot is a siganid with a laterally compressed body roughly half as deep as it is long and venomous spines in the dorsal fin, which is why the group is known as rabbitfish or spinefeet. It tolerates a wide range of salinities and lives in shallow coastal waters — reefs, mangroves and estuaries — to about 35 m, with adults also on the drop-offs of fringing reefs; it is a largely herbivorous omnivore that spawns at night and is a familiar fresh-market fish with real mariculture potential thanks to its hardiness. Its Indo-West Pacific range runs from the Andaman Islands and the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra eastwards to West Papua. In Malaysia it is called dengkis, ketang lada or debam, and it can be caught in the mangroves, river mouths and fringing reefs of Selangor, Perak and Penang on the west coast and Terengganu and Kelantan on the east coast; a bait of seaweed, algae or bread fished hard on the bottom from shore works best, and the dorsal spines demand care when unhooking.
Caution: has venomous spines. Take great care when unhooking and handling; the sting is extremely painful.
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