font settings

Font Size: Large | Normal | Small
Font Face: Verdana | Geneva | Georgia

Acanthuridae

(Family)

Overview

[ Back to top ]

Acanthuridae ("thorn tails") is the family of surgeonfishes, tangs, and unicornfishes. The family includes about 80 species in six genera, all of which are marine fish living in tropical seas, usually around coral reefs. Many of the species are brightly colored and popular for aquaria.

The distinctive characteristic of the family is the spines, one or more on either side of the tail, which are dangerously sharp. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are large, extending for most of the length of the body. The small mouths have a single row of teeth used for grazing on algae.1]

Surgeonfishes sometimes feed as solitary individuals, but they also often travel and feed in schools. It has been suggested that feeding in schools is a mechanism for overwhelming the highly aggressive defense responses of small territorial damselfishes that vigorously guard small patches of algae on coral re efs.[2]

Most species are relatively small and have a maximum length of 15?40 cm (6?16 in), but some members of the genus Acanthurus, some members of the genus Prionurus, and most members of the genus Naso can grow larger, with the whitemargin unicornfish (N. annulatus), the largest species in the family, reaching a length of up to a metre (3,3 ft). These fishes can grow quickly in aquariums so it is advisable to check the average growth size and suitability before adding to a marine aquarium.

Species

[ Back to top ]
Achilles tang, Acanthurus achilles
Eyestripe surgeonfish, Acanthurus dussumieri
Powderblue surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucosternon
Doubleband surgeonfish, Acanthurus tennenti
Kole Tang, Ctenochaetus strigosus
Elongate unicornfish, Naso lopezi
Bluespine unicornfish, Naso unicornis
Red Sea sailfin tang, Zebrasoma desjardinii
Orangespot surgeonfish, Acanthurus olivaceus, is being cleaned by two Hawaiian cleaner wrasse, Labroides phthirophagus
Regal Tang, Paracanthurus hepatus in an aquarium

Timeline of genera

[ Back to top ]

Etymology and taxonomic history

[ Back to top ]

The name of the family is derived from the Greek words akantha and oura, which loosely translate to "thorn" and "tail", respectively. This refers to the distinguishing charact eristic of the family, the "scalpel" found each member's caudal peduncle.[1]

In the early 1900s, the family was called Hepatidae.[3]

In the aquarium

[ Back to top ]

Tangs are very sensitive to disease in the home aquarium. However if the tang is fed enough algae and the aquarium is properly maintained disease should not be a problem. It is usually necessary to quarantine the animals for a period before introducing them to the aquarium.

Adults range from 15?40 cm (6-15 in.) in length and most grow quickly even in aquariums. When considering a tang for an aquarium it is important to consider the size to which these fish can grow. Larger species such as the popular Pacific Blue tang surgeonfish (of Finding Nemo fame), Naso or lipst ick tang, Lined surgeonfish, Sohal surgeonfish and Atlantic Blue tang surgeonfish can grow to 40 cm (15 in.) and require swimming room and hiding places.

Many also suggest adding aggressive tangs to the aquarium last as they are territorial and may fight and possibly kill other fish.

Tangs primarily graze on macroalgae, such as caulerpa and gracilias, although they have been observed in an aquarium setting to eat meat-based fish foods. A popular technique for aquarists, is to grow macroalgae in a sump or refugium. This technique not only is economically beneficial, but serves to promote enhanced water quality through nitrate absorption. The growth of the algae can then be controlled by feeding it to the tang.

schools is a mechanism for overwhelming the highly aggressive defense responses of small territorial damselfishes that vigorously guard small patches of algae on coral reefs.[2]

Mo st species are relatively small and have a maximum length of 15?40 cm (6?16 in), but some members of the genus Acanthurus, some members of the genus Prionurus, and most members of the genus Naso can grow larger, with the whitemargin unicornfish (N. annulatus), the largest species in the family, reaching a length of up to a metre (3,3 ft). These fishes can grow quickly in aquariums so it is advisable to check the average growth size and suitability before adding to a marine aquarium.

Species

[ Back to top ]
Achilles tang, Acanthurus achilles
Eyestripe surgeonfish, Acanthurus dussumieri
Powderblue surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucosternon
Doubleband surgeonfish, Acanthurus tennenti
Kole Tang, Ctenochaetus strigosus
Elongate unicornfish, Naso lopezi
Bluespine unicornfish, Naso unicornis
Red Sea sailfin tang, Zebrasoma desjardinii
Orangespot surgeonfish, Acanthurus olivaceus, is being cleaned by two Hawaiian cleaner wrasse, Labroides phthirophagus
Regal Tang, Paracanthurus hepatus in an aquarium
  • Genus Acanthurus
    • Achilles tang, Acanthurus achilles Shaw, 1803.
    • Whitefin surgeonfish, Acanthurus albipectoralis Allen & Ayling, 1987.
    • Orange-socket surgeonfish, Acanthurus auranticavus Randall, 1956.
    • Ocean surgeon, Acanthurus bahianus Castelnau, 1855.
    • Black-spot surgeonfish, Acanthurus bariene Lesson, 1831.
    • Ringtail surgeonfish, Acanthurus blochii Valenciennes, 1835.
    • Doctorfish tang, Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787).
    • Chronixis surgeonfish, Acanthurus chronixis Randall, 1960.
    • Atlantic Blue tang surgeonfish, Acanthurus coeruleus Bloch & Schneider, 1801.
    • Eyestripe surgeonfish, Acanthurus dussumieri Valenciennes, 1835.
    • Fowler's surgeonfish, Acanthurus fowleri de Beaufort, 1951.
    • Black surgeonfish, Acanthurus gahhm (Forssk?l, 1775).
    • Finelined surgeonfish, Acanthurus grammoptilus Richardson, 1843.
    • Whitespotted surgeonfish, Acanthurus guttatus Forster, 1801.
    • Japan surgeonfish, Acanthurus japonicus (Schmidt, 1931).
    • Palelipped surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucocheilus Herre, 1927.
    • Whitebar surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucopareius (Jenkins, 1903).
    • Powderblue surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucosternon Bennett, 1833.
    • Lined surgeonfish, Acanthurus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758).
    • White-freckled surgeonfis h, Acanthurus maculiceps] (Ahl, 1923).
    • Elongate surgeonfish, Acanthurus mata (Cuvier, 1829).
    • Monrovia doctorfish, Acanthurus monroviae Steindachner, 1876.
    • Whitecheek surgeonfish, Acanthurus nigricans (Linnaeus, 1758).
    • Epaulette surgeonfish, Acanthurus nigricauda Duncker & Mohr, 1929.
    • Brown surgeonfish, Acanthurus nigrofuscus (Forssk?l, 1775).
    • Bluelined surgeonfish, Acanthurus nigroris Valenciennes, 1835.
    • Bluelined surgeon, Acanthurus nubilus (Fowler & Bean, 1929).
    • Orangespot surgeonfish, Acanthurus olivaceus Bloch & Schneider, 1801.
    • Black-barred surgeonfish, Acanthurus polyzona (Bleeker, 1868).
    • Chocolate surgeonfish, Acanthurus pyroferus Kittlitz, 1834.
    • Gulf surgeonfish, Acanthurus randalli Briggs & Caldwell, 1957.
    • Acanthurus reversus Randall & Earle, 1999.
    • Sohal surgeonfish, Acanthurus sohal (Forssk?l, 1775).
    • Doubleband surgeonfish, Acanthurus tennentii G?nther, 1861.
    • Thompson's surgeonfish, Acanthurus thompsoni (Fowler, 1923).
    • Convict surgeonfish, Acanthurus triostegus (Linnaeus, 1758).
    • Indian Ocean mimic surgeonfish, Acanthurus tristis Randall, 1993.
    • Yellowfin surgeonfish, Acanthurus xanthopterus Valenciennes, 1835.
  • Genus Ctenochaetus
    • Twospot surgeonfish, Ctenochaetus binotatus Randall, 1955.
    • Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus Randall & Clements, 2001.
    • Ctenochaetus flavicauda Fowler, 1938.
    • Chevron tang, Ctenochaetu s hawaiiensis (Randall, 1955).
    • Striped-fin surgeonfish, Ctenochaetus marginatus (Valenciennes, 1835).
    • Striated surgeonfish, Ctenochaetus striatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825).
    • Kole Tang, Ctenochaetus strigosus (Bennett, 1828).
    • Tomini surgeonfish, Ctenochaetus tominiensis Randall, 1955.
    • Ctenochaetus truncatus Randall & Clements, 2001.
  • Genus Naso
    • Whitemargin unicornfish, Naso annulatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825).
    • Humpback unicornfish, Naso brachycentron (Valenciennes, 1835).
    • Spotted unicornfish, Naso brevirostris (Cuvier, 1829).
    • Naso caeruleacauda Randall, 1994.
    • Gray unicornfish, Naso caesius Randall & Bell, 1992.
    • Elegant unicornfish, Naso elegans (R?ppell, 1829).
    • Horseface unicornfish, Naso fageni Morrow, 1954.
    • Sleek unicornfish, Naso hexacanthus (Bleeker, 1855).
    • Orangespine unicornfish, Naso lituratus (Forster, 1801).
    • Elongate unicornfish, Naso lopezi Herre, 1927.
    • Naso maculatus Randall & Struhsaker, 1981.
    • Squarenose unicornfish, Naso mcdadei Johnson, 2002.
    • Slender unicorn, Naso minor (Smith, 1966).
    • Naso reticulatus Randall, 2001.
    • Oneknife unicornfish, Naso thynnoides (Cuvier, 1829).
    • Bulbnose unicornfish, Naso tonganus (Valenciennes, 1835).
    • Humpnose unicornfish, Naso tuberosus Lac?p?de, 1801.
    • Bluespine unicornfish, Naso unicornis (Forssk?l, 1775).
    • Bignose unicornfish, Naso vlamingii (Valenciennes, 1835).
  • Genus Paracanthurus
    • Palette surgeonfish, Paracanthurus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1766).
  • Genus Prionurus
    • Biafra doctorfish, Prionurus biafraensis (Blache & Rossignol, 1961).
    • Prionurus chrysurus Randall, 2001.
    • Razor surgeonfish, Prionurus laticlavius (Valenciennes, 1846).
    • Yellowspotted sawtail, Prionurus maculatus (Randall & Struhsaker, 1981).
    • Sixplate sawtail, Prionurus microlepidotus Lac?p?de, 1804.
    • Yellowtail surgeonfish, Prionurus punctatus Gill, 1862.
    • Scalpel sawtail, Prionurus scalprum Valenciennes, 1835.
  • Genus Zebrasoma
    • Red Sea sailfin tang, Zebrasoma desjardinii (Bennett, 1836).
    • Yellow tang, Zebrasoma flav escens (Bennett, 1828).
    • Spotted tang, Zebrasoma gemmatum (Valenciennes, 1835).
    • Longnose surgeonfish, Zebrasoma rostratum (G?nther, 1875).
    • Twotone tang, Zebrasoma scopas (Cuvier, 1829).
    • Sailfin tang, Zebrasoma veliferum (Bloch, 1795).
    • Purple tang, Zebrasoma xanthurum (Blyth, 1852).
    • Zebrasoma xanthurus

Timeline of genera

[ Back to top ]

Etymology and taxonomic history

[ Back to top ]

The name of the family is derived from the Greek words akantha and oura, which loosely translate to "thorn" and "tail", respectively. This refers to the distinguishing characteristic of the family, the "scalpel" found each member's caudal peduncle.[1]

In the early 1900s, the family was called Hepatidae.[3]

In the aquarium

[ Back to top ]

Tangs are very sensitive to disease in the home aquarium. However if the tang is fed enough algae and the aquarium is properly maintained disease should not be a problem. It is usually necessary to quarantine the animals for a period before introducing them to the aquarium.

Adults range from 15?40 cm (6-15 in.) in length and most grow quickly even in aquariums. When considering a tang for an aquarium it is important to consider the size to which these fish can grow. Larger species such as the popular Pacific Blue tang surgeonfish (of Finding Nemo fame), Naso or lipstick tang, Lined surgeonfish, Sohal surgeonfish and Atlantic Blue tan g surgeonfish can grow to 40 cm (15 in.) and require swimming room and hiding places.

Many also suggest adding aggressive tangs to the aquarium last as they are territorial and may fight and possibly kill other fish.

Tangs primarily graze on macroalgae, such as caulerpa and gracilias, although they have been observed in an aquarium setting to eat meat-based fish foods. A popular technique for aquarists, is to grow macroalgae in a sump or refugium. This technique not only is economically beneficial, but serves to promote enhanced water quality through nitrate absorption. The growth of the algae can then be controlled by feeding it to the tang.

References

[ Back to top ]
  1. ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Acanthuridae" in FishBase. February 2007 version.
  2. ^ Mixed schooling and its possible significance in a tropical western Atlantic parrotfish and surgeonfish. WS Alevizon, Copeia 1976:797-798.
  3. ^ Seale, Alvin (1909). "New Species of Philippine Fishes". Philippine Journal of Science (Bureau of Science in Manila) 4 (6). 

Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]

The Family Acanthuridae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

[ Back to top ]

Acanthurus

Acanthurus is the type genus of the family Acanthuridae. Approximately half of all members of the family are members of the genus Acanthurus. They are found in tropical oceans, especially near coral reefs, with most species in the Indo-Pacific, but a few are found in the Atlantic Ocean. As other members of the family, they have a pair of spines, one on either side of the base of the tail, which are dangerously sharp (hence the name "surgeonfish"). Depending on species, they grow to a maximum length of 15?50 cm (6?20 in). Many are very colorful and consequently popular in the marine aquarium trade. [more]

Acronurus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[1] [more]

Ctenochaetus

[more]

Monoceros

Naseus

[more]

Naso

[more]

Paracanthurus

Paracanthurus hepatus, commonly known as the regal tang, is an average-sized colorful reef fish belonging to the family . A popular fish in marine aquaria, it is the only member of the genus Paracanthurus. A number of common names have been attributed to the species, including but not limited to palette surgeonfish, blue tang (leading to easy confusion with the Atlantic Acanthurus coeruleus), royal blue tang, hippo tang, flagtail surgeonfish and blue surgeonfish. [more]

Paracanthus

[more]

Prionurus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[2] [more]

Teuthis

[more]

Xesurus

[more]

Zebrasoma

Zebrasoma is a genus of marine fish composed of seven species of pointed-snout, disc-like bodied, sail-like finned, single peduncular-spined fishes. Zebrasoma are usually placid community fish, many forming large groups or shoals, although fiercely territorial against other tangs or similar shaped or colored fish in an aquarium setting. Zebrasoma like all have a forward facing spine on each side of the caudal peduncle (visible as a short, horizontal stripe on the base of the tail in the above picture). This spine, apart from terminating in a point, has angular edges that result in a scalpel-like sharpness along its length also. When alarmed, tangs can erect the spines sideways and slash at their opponent with rapid sideways movements of the tail. In some surgeons, the spines are fixed in the offensive position. The family name reflects this nature, meaning, literally, "Thorn Tail". [more]

Zebrazoma

[more]

More info about the Genus Zebrazoma may be found here.

References

[ Back to top ]
  1. ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Acanthuridae" in FishBase. February 2007 version.
  2. ^ Mixed schooling and its possible significance in a tropical western Atlantic parrotfish and surgeonfish. WS Alevizon, Copeia 1976:797-798.
  3. ^ Seale, Alvin (1909). "New Species of Philippine Fishes". Philippine Journal of Science (Bureau of Science in Manila) 4 (6). 

Footnotes

[ Back to top ]
  1. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=175854
  2. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=117387

Sources

[ Back to top ]
Last Revised: April 25, 2012
2012/04/25 19:25:29