Description
Also known as Convict Surgeon, Convict Tang, Convictfish, Doctorfish, Fiveband Surgeonfish, Lancetfish, Prison Surgeonfish, Prison Tang, Surgeon Convict, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish.
Found in large schools, over hard substrates, and around jetties, in shallow, protected, lagoons and seaward reefs. Sometimes found in their thousands, enabling them to chase other fish away, giving them the chance to eat the rich algae guarded by other species. Identified by their pale cream bodies and black strips like a convicts uniform.
They feed on filamentous algae.
Juveniles found in tide-pools.
Length - 26cm
Depth - 0-90m
Widespread Eastern Pacific, Indo-Pacific
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/1260
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