Morphology Data of Siganus canaliculatus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Woodland, D., 1997
Appearance refers to Male; Female
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs no special organs
Different appearance always different morphology between mature adults
Different colors
Remarks Males have a slightly more elongated body than females. During the breeding season, males are generally smaller than females and the genital aperture of the female is more enlarged than that of the male (Ref. 87212).

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features none
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section compressed
Dorsal head profile more or less straight
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout more or less normal
Position of mouth terminal
Type of scales cycloid scales
Diagnosis

This species is distinguished by the following characters: body compressed, moderately slender, its depth 2.3-2.8 in SL; last anal-fin spine 1.2-1.5 times in longest anal-fin spine (usually the third); soft parts of dorsal and anal fins low, longest dorsal-fin ray 0.7-1 times in longest dorsal-fin spine; caudal fin almost emarginate in specimens under 10 cm standard length, forked in larger fish; 16-26 (rarely 27) scale rows between lateral line and bases of leading dorsal-fin spines. Colour of body highly variable, greenish grey to yellow brown with numerous (100-200) pearly blue to whitish spots on nape and trunk, match-head size on lower sides; 2-3 rows between first spine of dorsal fin and lateral line (area of eye would cover about 6 spots in this region), and about 10 rows between highest point of lateral line and base of first anal-fin spine; when frightened or injured, sides mottled light and dark brown and cream, creating 6 or 7 regularly spaced, dark diagonal zones with paler zones of similar width between them; dark eye-sized spot usually just behind upper end of gill opening, and a narrow bar along upper edge of gill cover (Ref. 9813, 90102).

Description: Closely resembles S. fuscescens but differs by its slightly more pointed snout and longer pectoral fins (1.1-1.3 in HL vs. 1.4-1.5 in S. fuscescens) (Ref. 1602). Color pattern is similar to that of S. argenteus and S. fuscescens.

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Siganus canaliculatus

Lateral Lines 1 Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line 16 - 27
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels 0
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 16 - 21
on upper limb 4 - 6
total 20 - 27
Vertebrae
preanal 10 - 10
total 23 - 23

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes extending over most of the back length
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 13 - 13
Soft-rays total 10 - 10
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes forked; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 7 - 7
Soft-rays total 9 - 9

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   15 - 18
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  behind origin of D1
Spines     2
Soft-rays   3 - 3
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