Fine-lined Surgeonfish
Acanthurus grammoptilus
Also known as: Doctorfish, Inshore Surgeon, Inshore Surgeonfish, Lancetfish, Northwest Surgeonfish, Ring-tailed Surgeonfish, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish
- Doctorfish
- Inshore Surgeon
- Inshore Surgeonfish
- Lancetfish
- Northwest Surgeonfish
- Ring-tailed Surgeonfish
- Thorntail
- Thorntail Fish
Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.
Overview
Found singly or in small schools, over shallow, protected, silty coastal 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.
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.
- Range · Western Pacific
- Country only · 3
Found singly or in small schools, over shallow, protected, silty coastal reefs.
Adult photos 3
Discussion
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Deep dive
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