Acanthurus grammoptilus Richardson, 1843
Finelined surgeonfish
photo by Bajol, R.

Family:  Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes), subfamily: Acanthurinae
Max. size:  35.6 cm FL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,197.0 g
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 22 - 91 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia and northwestern Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-26; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 23-24. This species is characterize by the following head with small pale (rust colour in life) spots; black around peduncular spine groove of adults extending well ahead of front of spine (by a distance almost as long as spine on a 24.5 cm SL specimen); caudal fin with a very narrow white posterior margin (broader in young); body depth of adults (> 20 cm SL) 2.2.-2.5 times in SL (Ref. 9808); anterior gill rakers 16-18; posterior 21-23; when preserved, color of body brown; head spotted with bands in front of eye; tip of pectoral fin paler than the base; upper end of gill opening with a faint dark brown elongate blotch; dark brown color encircling caudal spine; caudal fin base white (Ref. 1920).
Biology:  Inhabits silty coastal reefs (Ref. 9710). A good food fish (Ref. 3132).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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