| Family: |
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes), subfamily: Acanthurinae |
| Max. size: |
31 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 40 m |
| Distribution: |
Indian Ocean: East Africa to Sri Lanka and the Lesser Sunda Islands of southern Indonesia. The Red Sea record by Dor (1984, Ref. 2198) is an error. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-24; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 22-23. Brown in color, specimens up to 12 cm SL with black horseshoe mark on shoulder region breaking into 2 horizontal curved bands in larger specimens; caudal spine surrounded by a black area which is then surrounded by a bluish white area; caudal fin with a white posterior border (Ref. 3145).
Description: Characterized further by having caudal spine length of 2.5-3.8 in head length; greatest depth of body 1.9-2.2 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs, 1 to over 20 m depth (Ref. 9710, 48637). Also found in slopes from silty inshore to outer reefs (Ref. 48637). Solitary or in groups (Ref. 90102). Sometimes occurs in small shoals. Grazes on benthic algae (Ref. 30573). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
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