Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) > Acanthurinae
Etymology: Acanthurus: Greek, akantha = thorn + Greek, oura = tail (Ref. 45335). More on author: de Beaufort.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 50 m (Ref. 58652), usually 2 - 20 m (Ref. 27115). Tropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 27115), preferred ?
Western Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and off northwestern Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 45.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 48637)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 9;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 26-28;
Anal
soft rays: 25 - 26. A large semicircular to subtriangular black mark anteriorly on side of body (open part anterior), the upper end at level of eye above dorsal end of gill opening, the lower end above base of pectoral fins. Head suffused with purplish blue. Caudal fin blackish centrally with a yellow band in each lobe that merges with white band at base, the posterior margin narrowly blue (Ref 9808).
A solitary and wary species found in clear seaward reefs and drop-offs (Ref. 9710, 48637). Often grazes algae from surface of sponges (Ref. 90102). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 27115.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E., 1956. A revision of the surgeonfish genus Acanthurus. Pac. Sci. 10(2):159-235. (Ref. 1920)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
More information
Common namesSynonymsMetabolismPredatorsEcotoxicologyReproductionMaturitySpawningFecundityEggsEgg development
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01698 (0.00737 - 0.03914), b=2.99 (2.79 - 3.19), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (45 of 100) .