| Family: |
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes), subfamily: Acanthurinae |
| Max. size: |
27 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 119 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: East Africa, including the Mascarene Islands (Ref. 37792) to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rapa (Austral Islands). The Indian Ocean population is without the white caudal fin. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-26; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 23-26. Body uniformly brown to dark brown; caudal fin pale in color (snow white in live fishes). Small, dark spot below and adjacent to axil of pectoral fin. Anterior gill rakers 15-18; posterior 14-16. Snout length 7.9 to 8.2 times in SL. Least depth of caudal peduncle 2.2 to 2.5 times in head length (Ref 9808). |
| Biology: |
This occasionally schooling species occurs in steep outer reef slopes and drop-offs (Ref. 1602, 48637). Benthopelagic over coral and sand (Ref. 58302). Feeds on zooplankton, particularly large gelatinous forms, and on fish eggs and crustaceans (Ref. 1920). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
