1st Edition

Biology of Rabbitfishes

Edited By Andrew Scott Hoey, Brett McCully Taylor Copyright 2026
248 Pages 25 Color & 19 B/W Illustrations
by CRC Press

248 Pages 25 Color & 19 B/W Illustrations
by CRC Press

Rabbitfishes (family Siganidae) are a vital yet often overlooked group of fishes in coral reef and seagrass ecosystems native to the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific region. Known broadly as herbivores with low comparative species diversity among tropical fishes, what makes rabbitfishes distinctive and how do these traits contribute to their ecological significance? This book delves into the... Read more

Foreword.

 

Preface.

 

1. Taxonomy and Biogeography of the Siganidae.

David J. Woodland

 

2. The Morphology and Colouration of Rabbitfishes.

Victor Huertas and Christopher R. Hemingson

 

3. The Origins and Diversification of Rabbitfishes.

Alexandre C. Siqueira and Peter F. Cowman

 

4. Nutritional Ecology of Rabbitfish (Siganidae).

Kendall D. Clements

 

5. Rabbitfish Life Histories: Unique Features that Support Resilient Fisheries.

Brett M. Taylor, Leilani Sablan, Mark A. Priest and J. Howard Choat

 

6. The Functional Role of Rabbitfishes in Coastal Marine Ecosystems: Fundamental and Realized Ecological Niches.

Simon J. Brandl and Sterling B. Tebbett

 

7. Vulnerability of Rabbitfishes to Environmental Change.

Andrew S. Hoey, Alexia Dubuc, Jennifer M. Donelson, Eva C. McClure and Morgan S. Pratchett

 

8. Rabbitfishes in Temperate Ecosystems, Range-Extensions and their Socio-Ecological Impacts.

Salvador Zarco-Perello, Adriana Verges, Ernesto Azzurro, Julia Santana-Garcon, Michel Bariche, Scott Bennett and Yohei Nakamura

 

9. Rabbitfish Aquaculture: A Review of Knowledge and Prospects for Future Sustainable Farming Practices.

Thomas Camus, Brett M. Taylor and Andrew S. Hoey

 

10. Rabbitfishes, Analogues of their Terrestrial Namesakes or Key Components of Future Food Security? Emerging Topics and Future Research Directions.

Andrew S. Hoey and Brett M. Taylor

 

Index.

Biography

Andrew S. Hoey (PhD, James Cook University) is a Professor of Marine and Aquaculture at James Cook University, Australia. His research focuses on the importance of species to the ecology, functioning and resilience of reef ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on the ecology of herbivorous fishes. He has broad experience working on reefs across the Indo-Pacific and tropical Atlantic, and has contributed to over 200 publications. 

Brett M. Taylor (PhD, James Cook University) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Guam where he contributes to the Sea Grant Program and the Graduate Program in Biology. His research focuses on the life histories and ecology of commercially-harvested coral reef fish species. He has worked extensively on the reefs across the Indo-Pacific region and has contributed to over 70 publications.