Black Spinefoot

The species can adopt a number of camouflage patterns involving off-white, pale gray to blackish, and various shades of brown. The basic pattern consists of a labyrinth of narrow bands with upper half vermiculate, the lower ones tend to meander horizontally. This pattern extends to the fins. Iris golden dissected by a chocolate cross. 4-5 irregular off-white bars on caudal peduncle. Scales fine on cheeks, densely packed over lower 2/3 of preopercular region. Midline of thorax without scales between pelvic ridges. Fin spines stout, pungent, venomous. Preopercular angle 87-100 degrees.

Hexangium Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Procamallanus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Hemiurus Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 7; Analsoft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 13

Postlarval & presumably the larval as well, are pelagic, live in dense schools away from the reefs in open water; presumed to feed on plankton. At an average size of 43 mm TL in spring, they perform highly synchronized mass migration onto the shoal areas of coral reefs. These small juveniles feed on finer textured algae (e.g. filamentous). As they mature, they ingest the coarser filamentous & fleshy algae, avoiding the blue-greens. Gross assimilation efficiency low; mean of 36% in juveniles, 16% in adults. This species is the smallest siganid; growth rate considerably low; hence, deemed not suitable for aquaculture.

Adults inhabit shallow coral reef flats. Found in rivers (Ref. 12792, 48637). Occurs in small schools (usually less than 10 individuals). Juveniles gather in larger numbers in corals with algae-grown at their bases (Ref. 48637). Initially, they browse on fine textured, e.g. filamentous algae, switching to coarser algae with increasing size. Both adults and juveniles are diurnal feeders (Ref. 4666). Fry are marketed fresh, pickled in brine or made into fish paste (Ref. 9813). Can inflict painful stings (Ref. 4690).

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: high; price reliability: questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this genus

廣泛分布於印度-西太平洋區，西自印度、斯里蘭卡，東至東加、社會群島，北至日本，南至澳洲等。台灣全島及離島沿岸均產。

全年皆可以手釣、圍網、拖網等漁法捕獲。本魚種以燒烤為宜。

體呈長橢圓形，側扁，背緣和腹緣呈弧形，標準體長為體高之2.3-2.8倍。頭小。吻尖突，但不形成吻管。眼大，側位。口小，前下位；下頜短於上頜，幾被上頜所包；上下頜具細齒1列。體被小圓鱗，頰部前部具鱗；側線上鱗列數14-18。背鰭單一，棘與軟條之間具一缺刻；尾鰭截平。體側上半為黃褐色，下半則為灰白色；並滿佈蠕紋，蠕紋間散佈小黑點。頭部為暗棕色，不具明顯的網狀紋。尾鰭具數條暗色橫帶。體色會隨環境不同而改變；魚體受驚嚇後，頭部網狀較明顯；體側顏色變暗，且網紋變成數條斜交的暗帶。

幼魚成群在大洋以浮游生物為食，並逐漸朝礁區移動。成魚通常會形成少於10尾的小群體在礁區外緣活動；亦常被發現於河口域，甚至淡水河川下游。以附著之絲狀藻及其他藻類為食，會避食藍綠藻。