Family
Acanthuridae
Surgeonfishes
Species Worldwide: 72 (6 genera)
Species In Hawaii: 24
Endemic species in Hawaii: 1 - (Convict tang)
Members of this family can be recognised by having 1 or 2 spines on the caudal peduncle that is used for defence or fighting and can cause painful wounds on other fish (or humans!) if provoked. The spines may even be venomous in some species. The acanthurid fishes usually have highly compressed bodies and a small mouth adapted to grazing algae. Some species also feed on plankton and detritus. The family is commonly recognised on coral reefs around the world and includes, besides the species usually considered the true surgeonfish, also the unicornfish and the sawtails.
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Achilles tang Acanthurus achilles |
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Ringtail surgeonfish Acanthurus blochii (mata) |
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Eye-stripe surgeonfish Acanthurus dussumieri |
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White-bar surgeonfish Acanthurus leucopareius |
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Orangebar surgeonfish Acanthurus olivaceus |
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Lavender tang Acanthurus nigrofuscus |
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Blue-lined surgeonfish Acanthurus nigroris |
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Convict tang
(manini) |
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Black surgeonfish Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis |
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Gold-ring surgeonfish Ctenochaetus strigosus |
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Orange-spine unicornfish Naso lituratus |
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Blue-spine unicornfish Naso unicornis |
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Yellow tang Zebrasoma flavescens |
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