First record of Siganus randalli (Teleost, Siganidae) in New Caledonia, and comments on its diet

Background: Most of the 29 Siganidae species are widely distributed through the Indo-Pacific area. In New Caledonia, these family was represented by 12 species. The present report is the first record of Siganus randalli in New Caledonian waters and provide information on its diet. Methods: Three specimens of Siganus randalli were caught in shallow mangrove waters of the southern part of New Caledonia. Their stomach contents and isotopic signatures (carbon and nitrogen) were analyzed and compared to others siganids species. Results and conclusion: This note provides the most southerly record of the rabbitfish Siganus randalli, which extends its distribution range by 1200 km southward and 1300 km southwest. The data on its diet, when compared with other co-occurring or more reef-associated siganid species, provide information on feeding processes and ecological functions associated with its mangrove habitat.