The Ocean Surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus) is a tropical fish known to live in reefs in the Atlantic Ocean. It is edible, and occasionally marketed fresh,^[1] but more often they are used as bait or in the aquarium trade.

Description

Ocean Surgeonfish are known by their oval bodies with uniform color (Usually blue-gray to dark brown), the pale to dark marking around the eyes, and the light yellow is now found on their bodies. Most have blue or white markings on the dorsal fin, anal fin, and tail fins and pale bands can sometimes be seen at the base of their tails. They often swim in schools with other species such as the Atlantic blue tang surgeonfish. They have been recorded up to 38 cm in length (15 in). Ocean surgeonfish have a total of 9 spines on their Dorsal fins and between 23 and 26 soft rays. Their anal fins have only 3 spines and between 21 and 23 rays. Their caudal fins are roughly emarginate, and the surgeonfish's body and head are both deep and compressed.^[2][3]

Distribution

Ocean Surgeonfish inhabit coral reefs, where they feed on algae.^[4] They are fairly common in Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. They can be found north to Massachusetts and Bermuda and south to Brazil

References

• REEF FISH Identification FLORIDA CARIBBEAN BAHAMAS; Humann, Paul and Ned Deloach; New World Publications Inc., jacksonville, Fl; pp. 34–35

This family Acanthuridae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e