Morphology Data of Acanthurus guttatus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Randall, J.E., 1956
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features none
Body shape lateral short and / or deep
Cross section compressed
Dorsal head profile more or less straight
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout more or less normal
Position of mouth terminal
Type of scales ctenoid scales
Diagnosis

Preserved color is brown; spotted, white spots usually bordered with dark brown (may help conceal it in turbulent water that is often filled with small bubbles). Pelvic fins bright yellow. Each side of caudal peduncle with a single, sharp, forward-pointing erectile spine. Gill rakers on anterior row: 21-24; gill rakers on posterior row: 19-23.

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Acanthurus guttatus

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels 0
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes extending over most of the back length
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 9 - 9
Soft-rays total 27 - 30
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 23 - 26

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   15 - 17
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  behind origin of D1
Spines     1
Soft-rays   5 - 5
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