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

Genus/species: Acanthurus bahianus

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Oval body with uniform color (Usually blue-gray to dark brown), the pale to dark marking around the eyes, and the light yellow is now found on their bodies. Most have blue or white markings on the dorsal fin, anal fin, and tail fins and pale bands can sometimes be seen at the base of their tails.

Common length : 25.0 cm (10 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and Bermuda southward to the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Ascension and St. Helena islands. Inhabits shallow bottoms with coral or rocky formations, depth range 2 – 40 m (6.5-130 ft).

IMG_5549

DIET IN THE WILD: Algae

Conservation: IUCN Least Concern

REMARKS: The Ocean Surgeonfish spine on both sides of the caudal peduncle may inflict painful wounds.

References

California Academy of Sciences, Steinhart Aquarium, Caribbean Reef 2018

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

Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/8485049836/in/set-72157608332652056/

  http://eol.org/pages/223263/details