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

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 clearly convex
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

Body purplish gray when alive; grayish brown when preserved; a region of dull yellow in front of eye, a lesser extension posterior to lower part of eye; outer 1/3 of pectoral fin yellow, extreme distal part hyaline; dorsal and anal fins yellowish grey basally, dull yellow distally; caudal fin base whitish; caudal fin purplish. Anterior gill rakers 16-24, posterior 17-22. Caudal spine small.

Description: Characterized further by having length of caudal spine 4.4-5.7 in head length; greatest depth of body 1.9-2.3 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Acanthurus xanthopterus

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 8 - 9
Soft-rays total 25 - 27
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 - 25

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   16 - 17
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  behind origin of D1
Spines     1
Soft-rays   5 - 5
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