Eyestripe Surgeonfish
TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)
Genus/species: Acanthurus dussumieri
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Bluish to brownish body with horizontal line markings; yellow stripe through eye, blue tail with numerous black spots; white caudal spine with the socket edged in black. Typically seen as a solitary fish but may also occur in small groups.
Max. size: up to 50 cm (20 in).
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific: from East Africa to Hawaii and the eastern Central Pacific. Also from Southwest Japan to the Great Barrier Reef. Absent from most of the Central Pacific. Adults are found mainly on deep coastal reef slopes and outer reef walls.
Depth ranges from 4–131 m (4-430 ft) and are usually found below 30 ft..
DIET IN THE WILD: Grazes algae from reefs and sand.
IUCN Red List Least Concern
REMARKS: The eyestripe surgeonfish reputedly has a strong odor when cooked. The Hawaiian name for this fish is palani and a Hawaiian riddle based on this name means “odor reaching to heaven.” This species can quickly change its coloration to a much darker shade that obscures the yellow and markings.
A distinguishing feature of surgeonfishes, tangs, and
unicornfishes is a modified scale on the caudal peduncle, which forms a scalpel-like sharp blade often covered with toxic slime. These spines are used for species recognition, defense, and competition for mates. Note: Acanthus means “thorn” or “spine”.
References
California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016
Ron's Wordpress shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-1aY
fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/1256
IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/details/177981/0
Australian Museum australianmuseum.net.au/eyestripe-surgeonfish-acanthurus-...
Encyclopedia of Life eol.org/pages/206881/details
Ron's flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3380836350/in/album-721...
December 18, 2008, 1-10-13 1-2-14
Eyestripe Surgeonfish
TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)
Genus/species: Acanthurus dussumieri
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Bluish to brownish body with horizontal line markings; yellow stripe through eye, blue tail with numerous black spots; white caudal spine with the socket edged in black. Typically seen as a solitary fish but may also occur in small groups.
Max. size: up to 50 cm (20 in).
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific: from East Africa to Hawaii and the eastern Central Pacific. Also from Southwest Japan to the Great Barrier Reef. Absent from most of the Central Pacific. Adults are found mainly on deep coastal reef slopes and outer reef walls.
Depth ranges from 4–131 m (4-430 ft) and are usually found below 30 ft..
DIET IN THE WILD: Grazes algae from reefs and sand.
IUCN Red List Least Concern
REMARKS: The eyestripe surgeonfish reputedly has a strong odor when cooked. The Hawaiian name for this fish is palani and a Hawaiian riddle based on this name means “odor reaching to heaven.” This species can quickly change its coloration to a much darker shade that obscures the yellow and markings.
A distinguishing feature of surgeonfishes, tangs, and
unicornfishes is a modified scale on the caudal peduncle, which forms a scalpel-like sharp blade often covered with toxic slime. These spines are used for species recognition, defense, and competition for mates. Note: Acanthus means “thorn” or “spine”.
References
California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016
Ron's Wordpress shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-1aY
fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/1256
IUCN Red List www.iucnredlist.org/details/177981/0
Australian Museum australianmuseum.net.au/eyestripe-surgeonfish-acanthurus-...
Encyclopedia of Life eol.org/pages/206881/details
Ron's flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3380836350/in/album-721...
December 18, 2008, 1-10-13 1-2-14