Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) > Acanthurinae
Etymology: Zebrasoma: Derived from Zebra = African horse + Greek, soma = body; referring to the stripes (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated, usually 8 - 35 m (Ref. 27115). Tropical; 23°C - 28°C (Ref. 27115)
Eastern Central Pacific: Line, Marquesas, Society, and Tuamoto islands to Pitcairn Group (Ducie Islands).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 21.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Dorsal spines (total): 4 - 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23 - 28; Anal soft rays: 19 - 24. Colour dark brown to nearly black (in life with faint irregular longitudinal bluish lines following scale rows). Snout protruding. Body depth 1.9 to 2.1 times in SL. Lower teeth with 5 denticulations, the central one twice as large as adjacent ones (Ref 9808).
Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 33204). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Its small and numerous pharyngeal teeth suggest a diet that consists mainly of filamentous algae (Ref. 33204).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Lieske, E. and R. Myers, 1994. Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p. (Ref. 9710)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.5 - 28.8, mean 27.3 °C (based on 244 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02344 (0.01123 - 0.04892), b=2.96 (2.79 - 3.13), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (11 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 51.4 [24.4, 161.3] mg/100g; Iron = 0.916 [0.339, 2.152] mg/100g; Protein = 18.1 [16.8, 19.3] %; Omega3 = 0.15 [0.07, 0.32] g/100g; Selenium = 13.2 [4.7, 46.5] μg/100g; VitaminA = 45.7 [10.7, 184.0] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.12 [0.96, 3.77] mg/100g (wet weight);
