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Fish Identification: Find Species

Class: Teleostei
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Acanthuridae Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes
Subfamily: Acanthurinae
Genus: Acanthurus

(See list of species below)


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40 species (see list below)
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Photo by Malaer, P.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 24 cm TL
Acanthurus achilles Shaw, 1803

Photo by Photo by Malaer, P.
 
Acanthurus achilles
[Achilles tang]

Photo by Williams, J.T.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 25.2 cm SL
Acanthurus albimento Carpenter, Williams & Santos, 2017

Photo by Photo by Williams, J.T.
 
Acanthurus albimento
[Whitechin surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 33 cm TL
Acanthurus albipectoralis Allen & Ayling, 1987

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus albipectoralis
[Whitefin surgeonfish]

Photo by Hazes, B.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 45 cm SL
Acanthurus auranticavus Randall, 1956

Photo by Photo by Hazes, B.
 
Acanthurus auranticavus
[Orange-socket surgeonfish]

Photo by Wirtz, P.

South and Central Atlanti
Max. Length 12.8 cm TL
Acanthurus bahianus Castelnau, 1855

Photo by Photo by Wirtz, P.
 
Acanthurus bahianus
[Barber surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 50 cm TL
Acanthurus bariene Lesson, 1831

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus bariene
[Black-spot surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 45 cm SL
Acanthurus blochii Valenciennes, 1835

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus blochii
[Ringtail surgeonfish]

Photo by Patzner, R.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 39 cm TL
Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787)

Photo by Photo by Patzner, R.
 
Acanthurus chirurgus
[Doctorfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 28 cm TL
Acanthurus chronixis Randall, 1960

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus chronixis
[Chronixis surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 39 cm TL
Acanthurus coeruleus Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus coeruleus
[Blue tang surgeonfish]

Photo by Malaer, P.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 54 cm TL
Acanthurus dussumieri Valenciennes, 1835

Photo by Photo by Malaer, P.
 
Acanthurus dussumieri
[Eyestripe surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 45 cm SL
Acanthurus fowleri de Beaufort, 1951

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus fowleri
[Fowler's surgeonfish]

Photo by Field, R.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 40 cm TL
Acanthurus gahhm (Forsskål, 1775)

Photo by Photo by Field, R.
 
Acanthurus gahhm
[Black surgeonfish]

Photo by Bajol, R.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 35.6 cm FL
Acanthurus grammoptilus Richardson, 1843

Photo by Photo by Bajol, R.
 
Acanthurus grammoptilus
[Finelined surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 26 cm TL
Acanthurus guttatus Forster, 1801

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus guttatus
[Whitespotted surgeonfish]

Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/B. Alenda

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 23 cm TL
Acanthurus japonicus (Schmidt, 1931)

Photo by Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/B. Alenda
 
Acanthurus japonicus
[Japan surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 45 cm SL
Acanthurus leucocheilus Herre, 1927

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus leucocheilus
[Palelipped surgeonfish]

Photo by Malaer, P.

Western Central Pacific
Max. Length 25 cm TL
Acanthurus leucopareius (Jenkins, 1903)

Photo by Photo by Malaer, P.
 
Acanthurus leucopareius
[Whitebar surgeonfish]

Photo by Rusconi, G.

Indian Ocean
Max. Length 54 cm TL
Acanthurus leucosternon Bennett, 1833

Photo by Photo by Rusconi, G.
 
Acanthurus leucosternon
[Powderblue surgeonfish]

Photo by Greenfield, J.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 38 cm TL
Acanthurus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Photo by Photo by Greenfield, J.
 
Acanthurus lineatus
[Lined surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 40 cm SL
Acanthurus maculiceps (Ahl, 1923)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus maculiceps
[White-freckled surgeonfish]

Photo by Honeycutt, K.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 50 cm TL
Acanthurus mata (Cuvier, 1829)

Photo by Photo by Honeycutt, K.
 
Acanthurus mata
[Elongate surgeonfish]

Photo by Pinheiro, P.

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 45 cm SL
Acanthurus monroviae Steindachner, 1876

Photo by Photo by Pinheiro, P.
 
Acanthurus monroviae
[Monrovia doctorfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Eastern Indian Ocean
Max. Length 36 cm FL
Acanthurus nigricans (Linnaeus, 1758)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus nigricans
[Whitecheek surgeonfish]

Photo by Greenfield, J.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 45.3 cm FL
Acanthurus nigricauda Duncker & Mohr, 1929

Photo by Photo by Greenfield, J.
 
Acanthurus nigricauda
[Epaulette surgeonfish]

Photo by Malaer, P.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 21 cm TL
Acanthurus nigrofuscus (Forsskål, 1775)

Photo by Photo by Malaer, P.
 
Acanthurus nigrofuscus
[Brown surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 25 cm TL
Acanthurus nigroris Valenciennes, 1835

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus nigroris
[Bluelined surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 26 cm TL
Acanthurus nubilus (Fowler & Bean, 1929)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus nubilus
[Bluelined surgeon]

Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver

Pacific Ocean
Max. Length 35 cm TL
Acanthurus olivaceus Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Photo by Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver
 
Acanthurus olivaceus
[Orangespot surgeonfish]

Photo by Bourjon, P.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 11 cm TL
Acanthurus polyzona (Bleeker, 1868)

Photo by Photo by Bourjon, P.
 
Acanthurus polyzona
[Black-barred surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 29 cm TL
Acanthurus pyroferus Kittlitz, 1834

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus pyroferus
[Chocolate surgeonfish]

Photo by O'Donnell, P.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 18 cm TL
Acanthurus randalli Briggs & Caldwell, 1957

Photo by Photo by O'Donnell, P.
 
Acanthurus randalli
[Gulf surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 34 cm TL
Acanthurus reversus Randall & Earle, 1999

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus reversus
[]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 40 cm TL
Acanthurus sohal (Forsskål, 1775)

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus sohal
[Sohal surgeonfish]

Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver

Indian Ocean
Max. Length 31 cm TL
Acanthurus tennentii Günther, 1861

Photo by Photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver
 
Acanthurus tennentii
[Doubleband surgeonfish]

Photo by Greenfield, J.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 27 cm TL
Acanthurus thompsoni (Fowler, 1923)

Photo by Photo by Greenfield, J.
 
Acanthurus thompsoni
[Thompson's surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Northwest to West Central
Max. Length 38.1 cm SL
Acanthurus tractus Poey, 1860

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus tractus
[Ocean surgeonfish]

Photo by Malaer, P.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 27 cm TL
Acanthurus triostegus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Photo by Photo by Malaer, P.
 
Acanthurus triostegus
[Convict surgeonfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indian Ocean
Max. Length 25 cm TL
Acanthurus tristis Randall, 1993

Photo by Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Acanthurus tristis
[Indian Ocean mimic surgeonfish]

Photo by Alban Choinier/Magazine des Voyages de Pêche

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 70 cm TL
Acanthurus xanthopterus Valenciennes, 1835

Photo by Photo by Alban Choinier/Magazine des Voyages de Pêche
 
Acanthurus xanthopterus
[Yellowfin surgeonfish]


Sort by: Species Length Year
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Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm) Year
Acanthurus achilles Achilles tang Western Pacific 24 TL 1803
Acanthurus albimento Whitechin surgeonfish Western Pacific 25.2 SL 2017
Acanthurus albipectoralis Whitefin surgeonfish Western Pacific 33 TL 1987
Acanthurus auranticavus Orange-socket surgeonfish Western Indian Ocean 45 SL 1956
Acanthurus bahianus Barber surgeonfish South and Central Atlanti 12.8 TL 1855
Acanthurus bariene Black-spot surgeonfish Indo-West Pacific 50 TL 1831
Acanthurus blochii Ringtail surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 45 SL 1835
Acanthurus chirurgus Doctorfish Western Atlantic 39 TL 1787
Acanthurus chronixis Chronixis surgeonfish Western Pacific 28 TL 1960
Acanthurus coeruleus Blue tang surgeonfish Western Atlantic 39 TL 1801
Acanthurus dussumieri Eyestripe surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 54 TL 1835
Acanthurus fowleri Fowler's surgeonfish Western Pacific 45 SL 1951
Acanthurus gahhm Black surgeonfish Western Indian Ocean 40 TL 1775
Acanthurus grammoptilus Finelined surgeonfish Western Pacific 35.6 FL 1843
Acanthurus guttatus Whitespotted surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 26 TL 1801
Acanthurus japonicus Japan surgeonfish Indo-West Pacific 23 TL 1931
Acanthurus leucocheilus Palelipped surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 45 SL 1927
Acanthurus leucopareius Whitebar surgeonfish Western Central Pacific 25 TL 1903
Acanthurus leucosternon Powderblue surgeonfish Indian Ocean 54 TL 1833
Acanthurus lineatus Lined surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 38 TL 1758
Acanthurus maculiceps White-freckled surgeonfish Indo-West Pacific 40 SL 1923
Acanthurus mata Elongate surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 50 TL 1829
Acanthurus monroviae Monrovia doctorfish Eastern Atlantic 45 SL 1876
Acanthurus nigricans Whitecheek surgeonfish Eastern Indian Ocean 36 FL 1758
Acanthurus nigricauda Epaulette surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 45.3 FL 1929
Acanthurus nigrofuscus Brown surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 21 TL 1775
Acanthurus nigroris Bluelined surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 25 TL 1835
Acanthurus nubilus Bluelined surgeon Indo-West Pacific 26 TL 1929
Acanthurus olivaceus Orangespot surgeonfish Pacific Ocean 35 TL 1801
Acanthurus polyzona Black-barred surgeonfish Western Indian Ocean 11 TL 1868
Acanthurus pyroferus Chocolate surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 29 TL 1834
Acanthurus randalli Gulf surgeonfish Western Atlantic 18 TL 1957
Acanthurus reversus Eastern Central Pacific 34 TL 1999
Acanthurus sohal Sohal surgeonfish Western Indian Ocean 40 TL 1775
Acanthurus tennentii Doubleband surgeonfish Indian Ocean 31 TL 1861
Acanthurus thompsoni Thompson's surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 27 TL 1923
Acanthurus tractus Ocean surgeonfish Northwest to West Central 38.1 SL 1860
Acanthurus triostegus Convict surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 27 TL 1758
Acanthurus tristis Indian Ocean mimic surgeonfish Indian Ocean 25 TL 1993
Acanthurus xanthopterus Yellowfin surgeonfish Indo-Pacific 70 TL 1835



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cfm script by eagbayani, 30.11.04, ,  php script by cmilitante, 05/11/2010 ,  last modified by cmilitante, 14/03/2013