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Acanthuroidei

(Suborder)

Overview

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Acanthuroidei () is a suborder of the Perciformes, the largest order of fish. The suborder includes the surgeonfish and Moorish idol.

Timeline of genera

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b>Acanthuroidei () is a suborder of the Perciformes, the largest order of fish. The suborder includes the surgeonfish and Moorish idol.

Timeline of genera

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References

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Photos

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Taxonomy

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The Suborder Acanthuroidei is a member of the Order Perciformes. Here is the complete "parentage" of Acanthuroidei:

The Suborder Acanthuroidei is further organized into finer groupings including:

Families

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Acanthuridae

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. [more]

Ephippidae

Ephippidae is the fish family containing the spadefishes. There are about eight genera, with a total of 20 species, mostly marine. The most well-known species are probably those in the reef-dwelling genus Platax, the batfishes, which are kept as aquarium fish. They are spade-shaped, laterally compressed, and very symmetrical triangular dorsal and anal fins. They are shiny silver with areas of yellow and vertical brown or black banding. The eyes are often located in one of the vertical bands as a method of camouflage. Scuba divers sometimes mistake them for angelfish, which are similar in shape but not closely related. Other genera in the family are characterized by long, trailing, pointed dorsal and anal fins. Most species feed primarily on algae and small invertebrates. [more]

Luvaridae

The louvar or luvar, Luvarus imperialis, is a species of perciform fish, the only extant species in the genus Luvarus and family Luvaridae. Other species and genera are only known from fossils dating back to the Paleogene. It is closely related to the surgeonfish. The juvenile form has a pair of spines near the base of the tail, like the surgeonfish, though they are lost in the adult. [more]

Scatophagidae

The scats are a small family, Scatophagidae, of fishes in the order Perciformes. [more]

Siganidae

Rabbitfishes or spinefoots are perciform fishes in the family Siganidae. The 28 species are in a single genus, Siganus. In some now obsolete classifications, the species having prominent face stripes?colloquially called foxfaces?are in the genus Lo. Other species like the Masked Spinefoot (S. puellus) show a reduced form of the stripe pattern. Rabbitfishes are found in shallow lagoons in the Indo-Pacific and eastern Mediterranean. [more]

Zanclidae

The moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus ("Crowned Scythe"), is a small marine fish species, the sole extant representative of the family Zanclidae (from the Greek zagkios, "oblique") in order Perciform. A common inhabitant of tropical to subtropical reefs and lagoons, the moorish idol is notable for its wide distribution throughout the Indo-Pacific. A number of butterflyfishes (genus Heniochus) closely resemble the moorish idol. It is closely related to, if not a direct descendant of the extinct Eozanclus brevirhostris, from the Middle Eocene of Monte Bolca. [more]

At least 13 species and subspecies belong to the Family Zanclidae.

More info about the Family Zanclidae may be found here.

References

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Sources

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Last Revised: February 23, 2012
2012/02/23 23:04:02