| Family: |
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes), subfamily: Acanthurinae |
| Max. size: |
50 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 6 - 50 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Mozambique (Ref. 1920) and Maldives to the western Pacific. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-28; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 25-26. Body brown; a round black spot at upper gill opening; dark blue line just below the bases of dorsal and anal fins. Dorsal fin with soft part having longer base than spinous part. Minute scales. Gill rakers in anterior row 19-23, posterior 22-24. A dark brown area surrounding the caudal spine. Large males develop highly convex foreheads that extend beyond the mouth (Ref. 1602).
Description: Characterized further by having orange rim around eye; distinctive dark spot behind eye; orange bar just behind rear margin of head; dorsal fin, orange; upper and lower margins on caudal fin, pale; caudal spine with length about 2.0 in head length; greatest depth of body 1.9-2.0 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Occurs in clear seaward reef slopes, below 15 m, usually below 30 m (Ref. 9710). Adults mainly on deep coastal reef slopes and outer reef walls (Ref. 48637). Found singly or in pairs (Ref. 9710). Feeds on algal film on bare rocks (Ref. 9710). Juveniles found in shallow protected reefs, usually between soft coral, in 0.2-3 m depth (Ref. 9710). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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