WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Whitefin Surgeonfish

Acanthurus albipectoralis

Also known as: Doctorfish, Lancetfish, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish, Whitefin Surgeon

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Sunlover Platform, GBR, Australia · April 20151 / 4
01

Overview

Found singly or in small schools, over steep, outer reef slopes.

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

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Pacific
  • Exact location · 3
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools, over steep, outer reef slopes.

04

Adult photos 4

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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 albipectoralis Allen & Ayling, 1987

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Surgeonfishes-Tangs-Unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)