Ecology Summary - Acanthurus nigrofuscus

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Main Ref.	Sano, M., M. Shimizu and Y. Nose, 1984
Remarks	Found on hard substrates of shallow lagoon and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone to a depth of more than 15 m. Herbivorous, feeds on filamentous Ref. 43650) and turf algae (Ref. 59111). Form spawning aggregations (Ref. 27825, 48637). Adults usually in small groups, but form large schools in some oceanic locations. Juveniles are often seen in mixed species aggregations (Ref. 48637). A species at the bottom of the 'pecking order' among surgeon fishes, and as a result employs the strategy of feeding in large schools that overwhelm the territorial defenses of other herbivores (Ref. 1602). During feeding, each bite is characterized by a quick nip at algal filaments, usually followed by a sidewards flick of the head. The jaws bear several broad multidenticulate teeth which appear engage turf algal strands either sheared during mouth closure or torn off as the head flicks sideways (Ref. 59059).

Main Ref.

Sano, M., M. Shimizu and Y. Nose, 1984

Remarks

Found on hard substrates of shallow lagoon and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone to a depth of more than 15 m. Herbivorous, feeds on filamentous Ref. 43650) and turf algae (Ref. 59111). Form spawning aggregations (Ref. 27825, 48637). Adults usually in small groups, but form large schools in some oceanic locations. Juveniles are often seen in mixed species aggregations (Ref. 48637). A species at the bottom of the 'pecking order' among surgeon fishes, and as a result employs the strategy of feeding in large schools that overwhelm the territorial defenses of other herbivores (Ref. 1602). During feeding, each bite is characterized by a quick nip at algal filaments, usually followed by a sidewards flick of the head. The jaws bear several broad multidenticulate teeth which appear engage turf algal strands either sheared during mouth closure or torn off as the head flicks sideways (Ref. 59059).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Acanthurus nigrofuscus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Hard Bottom: rocky;
Substrate Ref.	Letourneur, Y., P. Chabanet, P. Durville, M. Taquet, E. Teissier, M. Parmentier, J.-C. Quéro and K. Pothin, 2004
Special habitats	Beds: algae/seaweed; sea grass; Coral Reefs;
Special habitats Ref.	Nguyen, N.T. and V.Q. Nguyen, 2006

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type	mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.	Sano, M., M. Shimizu and Y. Nose, 1984
Feeding habit	browsing on substrate
Feeding habit Ref.	Sano, M., M. Shimizu and Y. Nose, 1984

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	Original sample		Unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition	2.00	0.00	2.00	0.00	Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
From individual food items	2.00	0.00			Trophic level and s.e. inferred from exclusive plant/detritus food items.
Ref.	Sano, M., M. Shimizu and Y. Nose, 1984

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