TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)

Genus/species: Acanthurus pyroferus

Acanthurus pyroferus3161779234_fc0fccc624_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Adults have a
purplish-black to brown body; curving black band from chin to upper edge of the operculum; orange patch above base of pectoral fin. Length to 25 cm. (10 in).
Front of juvenile’s body (“face”) is gray; body is white anteriorly and dark posteriorly. Dark-colored caudal fin rounded in juveniles.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indonesia, Philippines, Micronesia to Polynesia, Japan to New Caledonia and the Great Barrier Reef.  Found in lagoon and seaward reefs from 12–200 ft.

DIET IN THE WILD: Algae.

REPRODUCTION: Following external fertilization female scatters eggs over open water substrate: eggs not guarded.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least Concern

COLOR OF LIFE NOTE: Anti-predator Adaptations, Mimicry.

The common name “mimic” is based on the juvenile coloration; juveniles exhibit three different color patterns mimicking angelfish in the Centropyge genus. Coloration of juveniles mimics these angelfishes until they achieve the largest size attained by the angelfishes; then their appearance transforms to the appropriate adult coloration for A. pyroferus.
Juveniles mimic Centropyge spp. (in Guam, juveniles mimic C. flavissimus see below).

Centropyge flavissima6764335749_c4befc1269_b

Philippine Coral Reef 

REFERENCES

California Academy of Sciences Color of Life exhibit 2015

fishbase www.fishbase.se/summary/4742

Ron’s flickr  https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/2989062467/in/set-72157608332652056/

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1fA

EOL  http://eol.org/pages/211470/details