Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) > Acanthurinae
Etymology: Acanthurus: Greek, akantha = thorn + Greek, oura = tail (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 6 - 50 m (Ref. 37816), usually 30 - ? m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 23°C - 29°C (Ref. 27115); 30°N - 24°S
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2334)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 9;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 26-28;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 25 - 26. Body brown; a round black spot at upper gill opening; dark blue line just below the bases of dorsal and anal fins. Dorsal fin with soft part having longer base than spinous part. Minute scales. Gill rakers in anterior row 19-23, posterior 22-24. A dark brown area surrounding the caudal spine. Large males develop highly convex foreheads that extend beyond the mouth (Ref. 1602).
Indo-West Pacific: Mozambique (Ref. 1920) and Maldives to the western Pacific.
Occurs in clear seaward reef slopes, below 15 m, usually below 30 m (Ref. 9710). Adults mainly on deep coastal reef slopes and outer reef walls (Ref. 48637). Found singly or in pairs (Ref. 9710). Feeds on algal film on bare rocks (Ref. 9710). Juveniles found in shallow protected reefs, usually between soft coral, in 0.2-3 m depth (Ref. 9710).
Randall, J.E., 1956. A revision of the surgeonfish genus Acanthurus. Pac. Sci. 10(2):159-235.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
CollaboratorsPicturesStamps, CoinsSoundsCiguateraSpeedSwim. typeGill areaOtolithsBrainsVision
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02246 (-0.14181 - 0.18673), b=2.96 (2.88 - 3.05), based on LWR estimates for this genus-BS (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (37 of 100) .