WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Ocean Surgeonfish

Acanthurus tractus

Also known as: Barber, Barber Surgeonfish, Brown Surgeonfish, Doctorfish, Fiveband Surgeonfish, Grey Doctorfish, Lancetfish, Ocean Surgeon, Ocean Tang, Ringtail, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015
Handle with careLook, don't touch
Adult
@Fee504 · Florida, United States · July 20171 / 37

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

01

Overview

Found in small schools, close to coral and rock formations, over shallow, inshore, rock and sand patches of reefs.
Widespread Northwestern Atlantic, Caribbean

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

Behaviour
schooling

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

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

  • Range · Caribbean, Northwest Atlantic
  • Exact location · 2
  • Country only · 35
LIVES IN

Found in small schools, close to coral and rock formations, over shallow, inshore, rock and sand patches of reefs.

04

Adult photos 37

05

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 tractus Poey, 1860

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Surgeonfishes-Tangs-Unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)