| Family: |
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes), subfamily: Acanthurinae |
| Max. size: |
45 cm SL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 30 years |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 20 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique (Ref. 41878). Indo-West Pacific: Seychelles (Ref. 10685), Philippines, Indonesia and Great Barrier Reef; recently found in Maldives. Reported from Malaysia (Ref. 5756) and Samoa (Ref. 592). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-26; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 23-24. Color in life dark brown; orange brown from pectoral base downward; caudal spine socket bright orange; orange blotch before and behind pupil; caudal fin base with a white band. Anterior gill rakers 20-23, posterior 24-28. Large caudal spine, 2.2 - 4.4 in head. |
| Biology: |
Adults inhabit shallow reefs, both in lagoons and outer reef areas. They frequently move in groups. Juveniles found between soft corals in lagoons at depths of up to 2 m (Ref. 9710, 48637). Adults in groups, often mixed with other similar species (Ref. 48637). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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