Siganus puellus (Schlegel 1852)

Body yellow-orange above to silvery white below; a prominent blackish bar on head, spotted; iris blackish; opercular area silver; dorsal and anal fin spines and rays yellow, spines with white streak. Spines stout and venomous. Preopercular angle 101°-111°. Cheeks fully covered with strong scales. Midline of thorax scaled; scaled pelvic ridges may interrupt scale row pattern. Low rim of anterior nostril expanded posteriorly into a short, broad triangular flap.

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

Juveniles (4-7 cm SL) at depths 1-5 m in quieter waters of outer reef flats, about coral patches of Acropora. They may occur in large numbers & may form loose feeding schools with similar-sized S. corallinus, S. doliatus, S. spinus, & scarids. Pair bond formation at about 7 cm SL; with increasing size, pairs venture onto where currents & wave action are stronger. Pairs of large adults live in open water on faces of drop-offs of coral reefs at depths 3-10 m.

Occurs in shallow, coral-rich areas of clear lagoons and seaward reefs. Individuals up to 7 cm SL forms large schools in shallows, lagoons and outer reef flats, particularly in areas dominated by luxurious growths of Acropora. Adults occur in pairs. Juveniles feed on filamentous algae, adults on algae, tunicates, and sponges (Ref. 9813, 48637). 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