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

Genus/species: Acanthurus olivaceus 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Adult coloration: light gray-brown  head and forebody, dark gray-brown behind; blue-edged elliptical orange band behind upper gill cover. Juveniles less than 6 cm are yellow, subadults become a dirty yellowish-brown. A “ scalpel ,” (distinctive spine) on either side of the tail base, identifies it as surgeonfish. Color marks emphasize the scalpels.

Length up to 35 cm (13 in)

Orangeband Surgeonfish4405089732_995ac616e4_b

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Eastern Indo-Pacific. Near reefs over sand, bare rock and rubble substrates, 3–45 m (10-150 ft.). Juveniles inhabit protected bays and lagoons in depths as shallow as 3 m. Adults occur singly or in schools.

Orangeband Surgeonfish aka Orange Shoulder Tang IMG_6416

DIET IN THE WILD: The small mouths have a single row of teeth used for grazing on surface film of detritus, diatoms and filamentous algae covering sand and rocks.

REPRODUCTION: Fertilization is external. They are oviparous and do not display obvious sexual dimorphism.

CONSERVATION: IUCN, Least Concern (LC)

REMARKS: An important food fish.

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 

Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/2979737382/in/set-72157608332652056/

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1aq

Ref: fishbase http://www.fishbase.org/country/CountrySpeciesSummary.cfm?Country=Philippines&genusname=Acanthurus&speciesname=olivaceus

IUCN www.iucnredlist.org/details/177991/0

EOL http://eol.org/data_objects/24984776