Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) > Acanthurinae
Etymology: Acanthurus: Greek, akantha = thorn + Greek, oura = tail (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Herre.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 40 m (Ref. 90102), usually 3 - 30 m (Ref. 27115). Tropical; 23°C - 27°C (Ref. 27115); 19°N - 3°N
Indo-Pacific: Seychelles, Maldives, Andaman Sea, Philippines, Palau, and Line Islands Reported from Indonesia (Ref. 8631). Line Islands and East Africa (Ref. 37792).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 45.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 48637)
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24 - 25; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 23. Preserved color blackish brown; black above and behind lips; mouth encircled by a bluish white band; a wide white band across the chest; caudal base with a broad bluish white band; white peduncular spine. Fins black; pectoral with a white band on posterior third.
Occurs in clear seaward reefs near drop-offs (Ref. 9710, 48637). Solitary or in small groups (Ref. 90102). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E., 1956. A revision of the surgeonfish genus Acanthurus. Pac. Sci. 10(2):159-235. (Ref. 1920)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 26.2 - 28.9, mean 28.5 °C (based on 94 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02344 (0.01118 - 0.04914), b=2.95 (2.78 - 3.12), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.1 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 45.8 [19.1, 130.9] mg/100g; Iron = 0.662 [0.253, 1.583] mg/100g; Protein = 18.2 [16.8, 19.4] %; Omega3 = 0.0949 [, ] g/100g; Selenium = 19 [7, 53] μg/100g; VitaminA = 38.8 [8.8, 157.3] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.61 [0.82, 4.80] mg/100g (wet weight);