TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)
Genus/species: Acanthurus japonicus
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Like all surgeonfish, A. japonicus are colorful, thin-bodied, oval-shaped. They typically have long continuous dorsal and anal fins and crescent caudal fins. The body is brownish with a white patch on cheek between eyes and mouth; pectoral, anal, and dorsal fins brown with blue highlight at tip. An orange band is found on last third of dorsal fin. Yellow stripes are along base of dorsal and anal fins with a blue tail with yellow bar. In addition like other surgeonfishes it has a (5)razor-sharp caudal spine located at the base of their caudal fin.
Length up to 8.3 in.
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Found in Asian-Pacific: Sulawesi to Philippines, SW Japan in clear lagoons and shallow (6–36 ft) seaward reefs.
DIET IN THE WILD: Algae.
REPRODUCTION: Group spawner.
CONSERVATION: IUCN, Least concern
References
California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016
Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/2779042635/in/set-72157608332652056/
Ron’s WordPress shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1aA
fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/23375