• English Name : Goldlined rabbitfish
  • Local Name : Thammas
  • Size : Common to 25 cm; max. 43 cm
  • Family : SIGANIDAE
  • Order : Perciformes
  • Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 13 spines and 10 rays. Anal fin with 7 spines and 9 rays. Pectoral fin with 17 rays. Body depth 1.8-2.2 in standard length. Body deep and compressed. Dorsal profile of head slightly convex. Scales minute. Caudal fin slightly forked.
  • Colour: Bluish above, silvery below. Horizontal golden lines on sides. The lines are broken into spots on the dorsal and anal sides of the fish and also at the caudal peduncle. A large golden spot below the soft dorsal.
  • Habitat and Biology: Occurs in schools in coastal areas. Particularly common in shallow waters of coralline areas. Adults and sub-adults on reef flat, young above mangroves. Feeds by scraping algae from coral surfaces and browsing on seaweeds and seagrasses.
  • Distribution: Maldives to Western Pacific.
  • Remarks: Siganus lineatus appears to be particularly common in the south of Maldives. It is not seen in the vicinity of Male�?. It is very closely related to S. guttatus (Bloch), which differs by being entirely yellow spotted.
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Biodiversity of Maldives
Biodiversity of Maldives