Description
Also known as Atlantic Blue Tang, Atlantic Blue Tang Surgeonfish, Blue Barber, Blue Caribbean Tang, Blue Doctor, Blue Doctorfish, Blue Tang Surgeonfish, Doctorfish, Lancetfish, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish, Unicornfish, Yellow Barber, Yellow Doctorfish.
Found singly or in small schools, over inshore grass and rocky areas, of protected, shallow reefs, rich in algae growth. Identified by the dark, almost triangular body, with a white spine, and can vary in colour from blue to deep purple. Juveniles can also be yellow.
They feed exclusively on algae.
Juveniles found holding cleaning stations mixed with other fish.
Length - 30cm
Depth - 2-40m
Widespread Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean
Surgeonfish have a blade like spine in the tail that points outwards when bent, unicorns have two hook-like plates along the tail, these are used for defence and are as sharp as a surgeons scalpel, hence the name "Surgeonfish".
Some species are venomous. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/944
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