[Samaral (Philippine); family Siganidae]
Rabbitfish are tropical reef dwelling fish that, unlike most fish, are vegetarian, living on seaweeds (algae). Incidental to their diet they eat bacteria and other organisms adhering to the seaweed, and some of these contain ciguatera toxins. Predatory fish that eat Rabbitfish can concentrate these toxins to a dangerous degree, but Rabbitfish themselves contain only low, non-dangerous levels.
More on Varieties of Fish (very
large page).
[Streaked Spinefoot
(Fishbase / FDA), Java Rabbitfish, Bluespotted spinefoot; Samaral
(Philippine); Siganus javus]
Found in tropic seas from the east coast of Africa to the South
Pacific islands, the Java Rabbitfish is a vegetarian living on algae. It
can grow to 20 inches but the photo specimen was 14 inches and 1.9 pounds,
near the high end for market fish. Rabbitfish reproduces quickly and is
not listed as endangered (IUCN NE (Not Evaluated)). They have no
conventional scales so are not kosher.
Details and Cooking.
[Barhead Spinefoot (Fishbase), Virgate Rabbitfish; Siganus virgatus | similar Barred Spinefoot (Fishbase), Pencil-streaked Rabbitfish / Spinefoot: Siganus doliatus]
These two Rabbitfish are very closely related and can interbreed.
They also vary tremendously in coloration so are hard to tell apart.
The Virgate ranges from the east coast of Africa to the South
Pacific islands while the Barred ranges from southern India across the
Pacific to the coast of Central America and northern South America. They
both go as far south as the northern coast of Australia and as far north
as the northern tip of the Philippines. Both are vegetarian, living on
seaweed (algae). The Virgate can grow to nearly 12 inches and the Barred
to almost 10 inches. Rabbitfish reproduce quickly and are not listed
as endangered (IUCN NE (Not Evaluated)). They have no
conventional scales so are not kosher.
Details and Cooking.