WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Blue-lined Surgeonfish

Acanthurus nigroris

Also known as: Blueline Surgeonfish, Blueline Tang, Blue-lined Tang, Cuvier's Surgeonfish, Doctorfish, Greyhead Surgeonfish, Lancetfish, Pacific Blueline Surgeonfish, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@Divenski · Alona Beach- Oasis Resort, Philippines · October 20121 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly or in small schools, over mixed coral, pavement, rubble and sandy substrates of clear lagoons and seaward reefs.

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.

02

How to identify

Pattern
blotches

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools, over mixed coral, pavement, rubble and sandy substrates of clear lagoons and seaward reefs.

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderAcanthuriformes
    5. familyAcanthuridae
    6. genusAcanthurus
    7. speciesAcanthurus nigroris Valenciennes, 1835

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Surgeonfishes-Tangs-Unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)