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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) > Acanthurinae
Etymology: Acanthurus: Greek, akantha = thorn + Greek, oura = tail (Ref. 45335). More on author: Valenciennes.

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 4 - 131 m (Ref. 9710), usually 9 - 130 m (Ref. 27115). Tropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 27115), preferred ?; 40°N - 37°S, 17°E - 155°W

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Indo-Pacific: East Africa (including the Mascarene Islands, Ref. 37792) to the Hawaiian and Line islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals, southern Great Barrier Reef and Lord Howe Island. Absent from most of central Pacific.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 54.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3145); common length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3146); max. reported age: 28 years (Ref. 52229)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-27; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 24 - 26. Pale brown body; broader, irregular lines on head; orange band between eyes, continued behind each eye to gill cover. Each side of caudal peduncle with single, sharp, forward-pointing erectile spine; spine largely covered by cream sheath; groove surrounded by a black area. Dorsal fin with soft part having longer base than spinous part. Minute scales. Gill rakers 22-26 in anterior row, 23-27 in posterior row. Caudal fin lunate in adults (Ref. 1602).

Schooling species, usually occurring in seaward reefs at depths greater than 9 m (Ref. 1602). Adults mainly on deep coastal reef slopes and outer reef walls, often on deep shipwrecks. Juveniles found on algae-rocky reef (Ref. 48637). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Occur singly or in groups (Ref. 37816). Feed on surface film of fine green and blue-green algae, diatoms, and detritus covering sand (Ref. 1602). Pair-spawner (Ref. 37816). Mainly diurnal. (Ref. 1602). Utilized as a food fish (Ref. 3146).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Probably spawn in pairs (Ref. 240).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Randall, John E. | Collaborators

Randall, J.E., 1986. Acanthuridae. p. 811-823. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 3145)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless (Ref. 4887)

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial

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Internet sources

Acanthurus dussumieri Valenciennes, 1835