WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Orange-socket Surgeonfish

Acanthurus auranticavus

Also known as: Doctorfish, Lancetfish, Ringtail Doctorfish, Ringtail Surgeon, Ringtail Surgeonfish, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 6
01

Overview

Found in small schools, often mixing with other similar species, over shallow, protected reef flats and slopes, of lagoons and outer reef walls. They look almost black with only a white band around the tail and orange around the spine. (this is not always visible)
Juveniles found between soft corals, in very shallow lagoons.

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

COLOURS
Behaviour
schooling

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Indian Ocean
  • Exact location · 1
  • Country only · 5
LIVES IN

Found in small schools, often mixing with other similar species, over shallow, protected reef flats and slopes, of lagoons and outer reef walls.

04

Adult photos 6

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 auranticavus Randall, 1956

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Surgeonfishes-Tangs-Unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)