Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) > Acanthurinae
Etymology: Acanthurus: Greek, akantha = thorn + Greek, oura = tail (Ref. 45335); reversus: Named in reference to the reversal of the color pattern of the caudal fin compared to that of A. olivaceus, its closest relative.
More on authors: Randall & Earle.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 4 - 15 m (Ref. 41630). Tropical
Eastern Central Pacific: Marquesas Islands.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 34.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 89972)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24 - 25; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 23 - 24. Caudal concavity 3.35-4.7 in SL; brown in life, the posterior half of body sometimes abruptly paler, with an elongate orange spot extending posteriorly from upper end of gill opening, the posterior half enclosed by a broad, deep blue band that extends beyond tip of pectoral fin; dorsal and anal fin base with a faint orange line, the soft portion of the dorsal with three dark longitudinal bands on outer one-half of fin, the anal fin with a narrow blue margin; caudal fin pale yellow with a broad black posterior border that narrows as it extends onto elongate lobes of fin; outer one-third of pectoral fins abruptly white; juveniles bright yellow with blue margins on dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 41630).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep.
Found inshore (Ref. 41630). Feeds on filamentous algae (Ref. 89972).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E. and J.L. Earle, 1999. Acantharus reversus, a new species of surgeonfish (Perciformes: Acanthuridae) from the Marquesas Islands. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 51(14):473-481. (Ref. 41630)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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