the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. It has been recorded once in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya but how this specimen reached there is uncertain. At remote islands such as Rapa, Pitcairn and the Line Islands this species may be the only rabbitfish present. It occurs at depths down to in lagoons, on reefs, and in seaweed and seagrass beds. Biology The streamlined spinefoot is normally found in large, fast swimming schools on the water column clear of the seabed, every now and again they all dive down to the substrare to feed. Juveniles and adults may be encountered in small schools of 2–100 individuals near coral reefs, usually in the surge zone on the edge of the reef. Juveniles inhabit the water close to the surface in dense schools as far as several kilometres offshore, moving on to reef flats just before metamorphosis. The streamlined spinefoot has a diet made up of red and green macroalgae and it is one of the few herbivorous fishes that is able to eat the chemically rich macroalgae Chlorodesmis fastigata, however, this algae may only be eaten opportunistically and is likely a minor part of the total diet. They have spines which can inject venom into an attacker. Unusually for a rabbitfish, the streamlined spinefoot is a pelagic spawner and has a relatively long larval stage and a unique prejuvenile stage. These long developmental stages allow it to disperse widely and makes the species less vulnerable than its congeners to overfishing. Fisheries Streamlined spinefoot are frequently recorded in markets in parts of their range, both as juveniles and adults. The pre-juveniles are taken as they migrate to reef flat areas in a brief but important part of local fisheries, e.g. in Guam. They are consumed fresh, pickled in brine, or made into fish paste. References External links Siganidae Fish of the Indian Ocean Fish of the Pacific Ocean Fish described in 1825 Taxa named by Jean René Constant Quoy Taxa named by Joseph Paul Gaimard