Lined Surgeonfish

Acanthurus lineatus

Also known as: Blue-banded Surgeon, Blue-banded Surgeonfish, Blue-lined Surgeonfish, Clown Surgeon, Clown Surgeonfish, Clown Tang, Doctorfish, Lancetfish, Lined Surgeon, Pyjama Clown, Striped Surgeon, Striped Surgeonfish, Tang Clown, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish

ALSO KNOWN AS

Blue-banded Surgeon
Blue-banded Surgeonfish
Blue-lined Surgeonfish
Clown Surgeon
Clown Surgeonfish
Clown Tang
Doctorfish
Lancetfish
Lined Surgeon
Pyjama Clown
Striped Surgeon
Striped Surgeonfish
Tang Clown
Thorntail
Thorntail Fish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012

VenomousKeep your distance

LIFE STAGE

Add a photo

Lined Surgeonfish adult, photographed at Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives — @fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 40

Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.

Overview

Found singly or in harems, over shallow reef flats, gutters, and slopes usually exposed to surge currents.

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.

How to identify

COLOURS

Pattern: stripes
Behaviour: harems solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.

Range · Indo-Pacific
Exact location · 4
Country only · 36

LIVES IN

Found singly or in harems, over shallow reef flats, gutters, and slopes usually exposed to surge currents.

RANGE

Indo-Pacific

Adult photos 40

Discussion 2

2 comments

Lex· 3 Mar 2020
Are striped surgeonfish safe to eat? There's a lot of content online about other types of surgeonfish, but the only info I can find on this one specifically is for aquarium keeping.
Helpful· 1
fishx6Top Contributor· 4 Mar 2020
Not sure best to ask the experts at fishbase as we only identify fish not eat them!
Helpful