Siganus luridus

Size range: 20-25 cm

Common size: 20 cm

Depth range: 1-10 m

Habitat:

• Hard - rocky, sometimes mixed with sediment

Water column position:

• Benthic

Colors & patterns:

• Small terminal mouth opening downwards
• Anterior nasal opening with a skin flap
• Tail margin straight or slightly convex
• Almost uniformly coloured, from beige-grey to dark-brown; sometimes two-coloured, dark back and light belly.

Behavior:

• Reef-associated - related to sites it inhabits
• Diurnal
• Shy

Schooling characteristics:

• Most often seen in small groups
• Occasionally associated with other species; may be solitary

Feeding: Feeds by grazing on algae

Native/Exotic: Exotic

EM notes: Immigrated from the Red Sea through the Suez canal. It has been recorded in the Eastern Mediterranean since 1955.

WARNING! Fin spines are slightly venomous.