Siganus argenteus is the most abundant of the rabbitfish and is seen in most hard reef areas along lagoon reefs, pinnacles and the seaward reef. They typically form schools that wander about, often pouring down onto the reef to scrape algae from rocks and dead coral, much to the consternation of resident territorial grazers such as surgeonfish and damsels, who dart among the grazing rabbits trying to chase them away. Reported to reach about 40cm in length, although those we see tend to be a lot smaller.
Spilling from the water onto the bottom to graze.
Individuals can change back and forth from light to dark.
Sometimes they are all dark.
Dark individuals next to a concrete block that is the base of a pole marking R-buoy pinnacle.
The four coral bleaching episodes between 2009 and 2016 killed considerable coral that is now covered with algae. If nothing else, at least it was good for the grazers.
A young juvenile photographed by Stan Jazwinski.
At night they tend to pair up or settle to the bottom by themselves and take on a mottled pattern to help blend in with the bottom to avoid nocturnal predators.
Created 9 April 2017
Updated 20 September 2021