WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Tennent's Surgeonfish

Acanthurus tennentii

Also known as: Doctorfish, Doubleband Surgeonfish, Doubleband Tang, Lancetfish, Lieutenant Surgeon, Lieutenant Surgeonfish, Lieutenant Tang, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@poeticpenguin · Sea Life Centre - Manchester, Barbados · January 20171 / 5
01

Overview

Found singly, or in schools, over silty waters, around slopes, in lagoons, outer reefs 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

Head & Mouth
black eye stripe

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indian Ocean
  • Country only · 5
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in schools, over silty waters, around slopes, in lagoons, outer reefs and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 5

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 tennentii Günther, 1861

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Surgeonfishes-Tangs-Unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)