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 1 - 85 m (Ref. 1602), usually 1 - 85 m (Ref. 27115). Subtropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 27115), preferred ?; 32°N - 28°S, 119°E - 109°W
Western Central Pacific: primarily anti-equatorial; Mariana Islands, southern Japan, Marcus Islands, and the Hawaiian Islands in the north and New Caledonia, Rapa (Austral Islands), and Tuamoto Islands, Pitcairn group, and Easter Island in the south.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 9;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 25-27;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 23 - 25. A whitish bar broadly bordered by dark brown from origin of dorsal fin across operculum. Caudal fin without a white posterior margin. Caudal concavity 10.5 to 12 times in SL. Body depth 1.7 to 1.8 times in SL (Ref 9808).
Inhabits primarily boulder-strewn areas of surge zone and browses on filamentous algae (Ref. 9710). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Often in schools (Ref. 9710). 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
Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 31637)
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].
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (24 of 100) .