Animals >>> Fish >>> Class: Actinopterygii >>> Subclass: Neopterygii >>> Superorder: Acanthopterygii >>> Order: Perciformes >>>
Suborder: Acanthuroidei
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Family: Acanthuridae
These fish get their common name, Surgeonfish, from the dangerously sharp spines along the caudal penduncle (the base of the tail fin) (I had to look that up to know where it is). There are 6 genera and 86 species described here.
No Information Domesticated Near Threatened Endangered Extinct in the Wild
Data Deficient Least Concern Vulnerable Critically Endangered
Data Deficient Least Concern Vulnerable Critically Endangered
There are 6 genera and 87 species described here.
Achilles Tang
Acanthurus achilles Also known as a Redspot Surgeonfish, Red-Spotted Surgeonfish, or Redtail Surgeonfish, this species is found throughout the Pacific inhabiting reefs or rocky shores at shallow depths. It grazes on algae and is very territorial.
For more information select the common name above.
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Ocean Surgeonfish
Acanthurus bahianus Also known as a Ocean Surgeon, Barber, Doctorfish, Grey Doctorfish, Ocean Tang, Ringtail, or Shitty Trooper, this species inhabits reefs in the central and southern Atlantic. It's herbivorous and schools. It is one of the most common animals within its range.
For more information select the common name above.
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Doctorfish
Acanthurus chinurgus Also known as a Doctorfish Tang.
For more information select the common name above.
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Blue Tang
Acanthurus coeruleus Also known as a Blue Barber, Blue Doctor, Blue Doctorfish, Blue Tang Surgeonfish, Yellow Barber, or Yellow Doctorfish, this species is common throughout the Atlantic south of the latitude of Florida. It prefers grazing on fleshy algae on reefs at depths less than 200 feet. Some of these fish are territorial. Those that are not tend to school and roam.
For more information select the common name above.
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Eyestripe Surgeonfish
Acanthurus dussumieri Also known as a Dussumier's Surgeonfish, Hawaiian Surgeonfish, Ornate Surgeonfish, Palani, Penciled Surgeonfish, Pencilled Surgeon, or Pencilled Surgeonfish, this species is native to parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It prefers reefs at depths greater than 30 feet and grazes on detritus and sediment.
For more information select the common name above.
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Japanese Surgeonfish
Acanthurus japonicus Also known as a Powder Black Surgeon or White-Nose Surgeonfish, this species is found in the western and northwestern Pacific Ocean. It grazes at depths between 15 and 60 feet. Males will display courtship colors.
For more information select the common name above.
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Powder-Blue Tang
Acanthurus leucostenon Also known as a Powder Blue Surgeonfish or Blue Surgeonfish, this species is native to both sides of the Indian Ocean as well as the western Pacific. It is a grazer grouping in large schools as depths shallower than 75 feet.
For more information select the common name above.
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White-Freckled Surgeonfish
Acanthurus maculiceps For more information select the common name above.
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Orange-Band Surgeonfish
Acanthurus olivaceus Also known as a Orange Band Surgeonfish, Gendarme Fish, Olive Surgeonfish, Orangebar Surgeonfish, Orange-Blotch Surgeon, Orange-Ear Surgeonfish, Orange-Epaulette Surgeonfish, Orange Epoulette Surgeon, Orangespot Surgeonfish, or Orange Spot Tang, this species is common in the eastern Indian Ocean and the southern Pacific Ocean as far north as Midway Island. It feeds on algae and detritus at depths from 25 to 150 feet.
For more information select the common name above.
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Mimic Surgeonfish
Acanthurus pyroferus Also known as a Chocolate Surgeonfish, Orange-Gilled Surgeonfish, Pacific Mimic Surgeon, or Yellowspot Surgeon, this species inhabits the Pacific across the south as far north as Japan. It is also found in the eastern Indian Ocean. It is a solitary fish found among the rocky seabed at depths from 10 to 200 feet. It sometimes mimics different species of Pygmy Angelfish.
For more information select the common name above.
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Sohal Surgeonfish
Acanthurus sohal Also known as a Sohal Tang.
For more information select the common name above.
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Lieutenant Tang
Acanthurus tennenti Also known as a Doubleband Surgeonfish, this species is native to the Indian Ocean as well as the western Pacific. It prefers shallow reefs usually only a few feet deep. It grazes on detritus and forms of algae.
For more information select the common name above.
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Convict Surgeonfish
Acanthurus triostegus Also known as a Convict Tang or Fiveband Surgeonfish, this species is found throughout the Indian and southern- Pacific (as far north as Hawaii) Oceans as well as the southeastern Atlantic. It can be found in harbors, reefs, or lagoons to depths shallower than 100 feet.
For more information select the common name above.
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Indian Ocean Mimic Surgeonfish
Acanthurus tristis Also known as a Blackcheek Surgeonfish or Yellowspot Surgeonfish, this species is native to both sides of the Indian Ocean as well as the western Pacific. It prefers more sheltered waters and depths between shallow and 80 feet.
For more information select the common name above.
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Goldring Surgeonfish
Ctenochaetus strigosus Also known as as Goldring Bristletooth, Bristletoothed Surgeonfish, Slender-Toothed Surgeonfish, Spotted Bristletooth, Spotted Surgeonfish, or Yellow-Eyed Surgeonfish, this species is native to the Pacific near Hawaii and the Johnson Islands. These are very common around Hawaii. They are solitary preferring shallow water but have been found over 300 feet down. They graze on detritus and algae.
For more information select the common name above.
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Naso Tang
Naso lituratus Also known as an Orange Spine Surgeonfish, Barcheek Unicornfish, Clown Tang, Masked Unicornfish, Orange-Spine Unicornfish, Pacific Orange-Spine Unicorn, Poll Unicornfish, Redlip Surgeonfish, Smooth-Head Unicornfish, Striped-Faced Unicornfish, or Striped Unicornfish, this species is native to the eastern Indian Ocean as well as the Pacific as fer north as the Hawaiian Island chain. It's typically solitary, although is will group together.
For more information select the common name above.
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Unicorn Tang
Naso unicornis Also known as a Bluespine Unicornfish, Brown Unicornfish, Humphead Unicornfish, Longhorn Unicornfish, Longnose Unicornfish, or Long-Snouted Unicornfish, this species is common throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It moves to deeper reefs as it ages grazing on macroscopic brown algae.
For more information select the common name above.
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Bignose Unicornfish
Naso vlamingii Also known as a Bignose Unicorn, Vlaming's Unicornfish, Scibbled Unicornfish, or Zebra Unicornfish, this species is found throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans (south of Japan). Its population is declining more from subsistence fishing and the aquarium trade than commercial fishing.
For more information select the common name above.
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Pacific Blue Tang
Paracanthurus hepatus Also known as a Palette Surgeonfish, Blue Surgeonfish, Blue Tang, Dory, Flagtail Surgeonfish, Hepatus Tang, Indo-Pacific Bluetang, Regal Blue Surgeonfish, Wedgetail Blue Tang, or Wedge-Tailed Tang, this species was made famous by the movie "Finding Nemo". It's popular in the aquarium industry which has led to overfishing in some of its habitats. It is found on reefs throughout the southern half of the Pacific Ocean.
For more information select the common name above.
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Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens For more information select the common name above.
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Two-Tone Tang
Zebrasoma scopas Also known as a Brushtail Tang, Bluelined Sailfin Tang, Blue-Lined Tang, Brown Sailfin Surgeonfish, Brown Sailfin Tang, Brown Tang, Two-Tone Surgeonfish, Twotone Tang, or Yellow Sailfin Tang, this species is found on both sides of the Indian Ocean as well as the southern half of the Pacific Ocean. It grazes on red and green algae on reefs down to depths of 200 feet.
For more information select the common name above.
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Sailfin Tang
Zebrasoma veliferum Also known as a Desjardin's Sailfin Tang, Eastern Sailfin Tang, Pacific Sail-Fin Surgeonfish, Pacific Sailfin Tang, Purple-Lined Tang, Ringed Tang, or Sailfin Surgeonfish, this species inhabits the eastern Indian Ocean as well as the southern half of the Pacific Ocean. It is more solitary (occasionally in pairs) grazing on algae to depths of 120 feet.
For more information select the common name above.
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Yellowtail Tang
Zebrasoma xanthurum Also known as a Dusky Sailfin Tang, Purple Tang, Red Sea Sailfin, Yellowtail Sailfin Tang, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, or Yellow Tang, this species inhabits both sides of the Indian Ocean. It feeds on algae and shelters in reefs to depths of 150 feet.
For more information select the common name above.
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