Siganidae
by A. Ben-Tuvia
Body oval, strongly compressed, covered with minute scales. Teeth in jaws in 1 row, close-set, incisor-like with prominent median cusps. Dorsal fin with 13 spines preceded by a forward projecting spine, and 10 rays; anal fin with 7 spines and 9 or 10 rays; pelvic fins with 2 spines separated by 3 rays. Spines sharp, venomous.
An Indo-Pacific family comprising 2 genera and about 20 species (Woodland, personal communication) all but one belonging to the genus Siganus, common in inshore waters in tropical and subtropical regions. Feeding on seaweeds and occasionally seagrass. Important food fishes in Indo-Pacific, caught in gill-nets, traps and trawls. Experiments have been carried out in recent years to cultivate them under controlled conditions (Ben-Tuvia, et al., 1973; Lundberg and Lipkin, 1979; Popper and Gunderman, 1975).
Genera 2; in Clofnam area 1.