Description
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.
Found singly or in harems, over shallow reef flats, gutters, and slopes usually exposed to surge currents.
They feed on algae and crustaceans.
Small juveniles secretive among rubble boulders.
Length - 35cm
Depth - 0-15m
Widespread 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: http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Acanthurus-lineatus.html
2 comments
Posted by @fishx6Not sure best to ask the experts at fishbase as we only identify fish not eat them!
Posted by LexAre 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.