Acanthurus xanthopterus

• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• Bibliography
• More Info
• Notes

Common Names

Click on the language to view common names.

Description

Family Acanthuridae

Distribution: Circumtropical , especially around coral reefs; five species in the Atlantic, the remaining in the Pacific and Indian oceans. All have a deep compressed body with the eye high on the head and a long preorbital bone. Single unnotched dorsal fin with 4-9 spines and 19-31 rays ; anal fin with 2 (only Naso) or 3 spines and 19-36 rays; pelvic fins with 1 spine and 3 (Naso and Paracanthurus) or 5 rays. Very small ctenoid scales . A small terminal mouth with a single row of close-set teeth. Most surgeon fishes graze on benthic algae and have a long intestine; some feed mainly on zooplankton or detritus . Surgeon fishes are able to slash other fishes with their sharp caudal spines by a rapid side sweep of the tail. Pelagic spawners. Many species have bright colors and are popular aquarium fishes.The family Acanthuridae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 6 genera and 72 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Many members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is labriform . Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period. Etymology of this family name : Greek, akantha = thorn + oura = tail

Physical Description

Habitat

Juveniles inhabit shallow, protected, turbid inshore waters while adults prefer deeper areas of protected bays and lagoons . Also in outer reef areas . May be found at depths of 1 to 100 meters. Usually found at depths of 5 to 90 meters.

Typically found in water with a depth of 0 to -5,455 meters (0 to -17,897 feet).Mean = -782.110 meters (-2,565.978 feet), Standard Deviation = 1,149.930 based on 246 observations. Ocean depth information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre.

Biome: Saltwater . Reef-associated .

Biology

Diet

This schooling species feeds on diatoms , detritus film of sand , filamentous algae, hydroids , and pieces of fish (Ref. 1602). Probably the only surgeonfish that readily takes bait (Ref. 12484).

Taxonomy

Ambiguous Synonyms

1. Teuthis guentheri Bamber, 1915

Unambiguous Synonyms

1. Acanthurus crestonis (Jordan & Starks, 1895)
2. Acanthurus rasi Valenciennes, 1835
3. Acanthurus reticulatus Shen & Lim, 1973
4. Acanthurus xanthopterus Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1835
5. Hepatus aquilinus Jordan & Seale, 1906
6. Hepatus crestonis (Jordan & Starks, 1895)
7. Hepatus guntheri (Jenkins, 1903)
8. Hepatus xanthopterus (Valenciennes, 1835)
9. Teuthis crestonis Jordan & Starks, 1895
10. Teuthis guentheri Jenkins, 1903
11. Teuthis g�ntheri Jenkins, 1903
12. Teuthis xanthopterus (Valenciennes, 1835)

Misapplied Names

1. Acanthurus blochii Valenciennes, 1835
2. Acanthurus fuliginosus (non Lesson, 1830)
3. Acanthurus grammoptilus Richardson, 1843
4. Acanthurus matoides (non Valenciennes, 1835)
5. Acanthurus umbra (non Jenkins, 1903)
6. Hepatus bariene (non Lesson, 1830)
7. Hepatus elongatus (non Lacep�de, 1802)
8. Rhombotides matoides (non Valenciennes, 1835)
9. Teuthis mata (non Cuvier, 1829)
10. Teuthis nigrofuscus (non Forssk�l, 1775)

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Family : Surgeonfishes , tangs , unicornfishes .

Similar Species

Members of the genus Acanthurus

There are approximately 93 species in this genus:

A. achilles (Achilles Tang) · A. albipectoralis (Whitefin Surgeonfish) · A. annularis · A. auranticarus · A. auranticavus (Orange-Socket Surgeonfish) · A. auranticus · A. aurolineatus · A. bahianus (Animals) · A. bariene (Bariene Surgeonfish) · A. nigrofuscus · A. blochi (Ringtail Surgeonfish) · A. blochii (Blue-Banded Pualu) · A. brevirostris · A. canaliculatus · A. chirugus · A. chirurgus (Black Doctorfish) · A. chronixis (Chronixis Surgeonfish) · A. coeruleus (Animals) · Ctenochaetus truncatus · A. doreensis · A. dussmieri · A. dussumieri (Dussumier's Surgeonfish) · A. nigroris · A. fasciatus · A. nigrofuscus · A. fowleri (Fowler's Surgeon) · A. fowleriinde (Fowler's Surgeon) · A. nigrofuscus (Ringtailed Surgeonfish) · A. gahhm (Black Surgeonfish) · A. gahm nigricauda · A. glaucopareiu · A. glaucopareus · A. grammophilus · A. grammoptilus (Finelined Surgeonfish) · A. guentheri · A. guttatus (Mustard Surgeonfish) · A. helioides · A. chirurgus · A. incipiens · A. japanicus · A. japonicus (Japan Surgeonfish) · A. pyroferus · A. leucocheilus (Pale Lipped Surgeonfish) · A. leucopareius (Head-Band Surgeonfish) · A. leucostemon · A. leucosternon (Blue Surgeonfish) · A. lineatus (Animals) · A. nigrofuscus · A. lishenus · A. maculiceps (Earbar Surgeonfish) · A. mata (Bleeker's Surgeonfish) · A. melanopterus · A. melanosternon · A. melanurus · A. mindorensis · A. monroviae (Monrovia Doctorfish) · A. nigricans (Black Surgeonfish) · A. nigricauda (Black-Barred Surgeonfish) · A. nigrifuscus · A. nigrofasciatus · A. nigrofuscus (Blackspot Surgeonfish) · A. nigroris (Bluelined Surgeonfish) · A. nubilus (Bluelined Surgeon) · A. olivaceous · A. olivaceus (Gendarme Fish) · A. orbicularis · A. monroviae · A. polyzona (Black-Barred Surgeonfish) · A. pyroferus (Chocolate Surgeonfish) · A. rackliffei · A. randalli (Gulf Surgeonfish) · A. reversus · A. rhombeus · A. ritsemae · A. ruppelli · A. sandvicensis · A. sohal (Red Sea Clown Surgeon) · A. spinipennis · A. tennentii (Doubleband Surgeonfish) · A. thompsoni (Chocolate Surgeon) · A. thomsoni · A. triostegas · A. triostegus (Convict Surgeon) · A. triostegus marquesensis · A. triostegus polyzona · A. triostegus sandvicensis · A. triostegus triostegus · A. tristis (Blackcheek Surgeonfish) · Naso tonganus · A. xanthopterus · A. virgatus · A. weberi · A. xanthopterus (Cuvier's Surgeonfish)

Bibliography

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More Info

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Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 21, 2007.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed November 15, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 52 providers.
• MBLWHOI Library: Universal Biological Index and Organizer. uBio.org accessed July 18, 2008.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 15, 2007:

• Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian Museum of Nature Fish Collection
• FishBase, FishBase DiGIR Provider - Philippine Server
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, AIMS - Baited Remote Underwater Video Station
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, Canadian Museum of Nature - Fish Collection
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity - Fish Collection
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, iziko South African Museum - Fish Collection
• Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Vertebrate specimens
• Museum national d'histoire naturelle, Ichtyologie
• National Chemical Laboratory, IndOBIS, Indian Ocean Node of OBIS
• OZCAM
• Provider, Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums
• Royal Ontario Museum, Fish specimens
• Senckenberg, Collection Pisces
• UNIBIO, IBUNAM, CNPE/Coleccion Nacional de Peces

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 3855132
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Fis-29584
• Fishbase Species ID: 1261
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13551478
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 172259
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 101214

Footnotes

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