Ecology of Acanthurus coeruleus
 
Main Ref. Randall, J.E., 1967
Remarks Inhabits coral reefs, inshore grassy or rocky areas. Mainly diurnal. Feeds entirely on algae (Refs. 5521, 127989). Herbivore (Refs. 33499, 57616). Strong preference for red and green algae, with the rhodophytes comprising 93% of the food items examined (Ref. 55789). Roving herbivore (Ref. 57616). Diurnal species (Ref. 3194). It forms resident spawning aggregations in late afternoon after high tide (Refs. 27825, 120681, 120682). This species exhibits o exhibits facultative zooplanktophagous habits, especially during seasonal scarcity of macroalgae (Ref. 122732). Found individually or in small groups. Dwells near coral reefs, in calm areas and lagoons of shallow water (Ref. 127989).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Acanthurus coeruleus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate : rocky;
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats Coral Reefs;
Special habitats Ref. Golani, D., E. Azurro, J. Dulčić, E. Massutí and L. Orsi-Relini, 2021

Associations

Ref. Coupal, L., E. Bédard, C. Peguero and I.S. Durante, 1992
Associations symbiosis; schooling;
Associated with Cleaned by Pederson's cleaner shrimp (Periclimenes pedersoni), scarlet striped cleaner shrimp (Lysmata grabhami), goby Gobiosoma evelynae, hogfish (Bodianus rufus), and wrasse (Thalassoma trifasciatum) as observed on the
Association remarks Forms small groups (Ref. 26235).
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type plants/detritus+animals (troph. 2.2-2.79)
Feeding type Ref. Randall, J.E., 1967
Feeding habit browsing on substrate
Feeding habit Ref. Clavijo, I.E., 1974
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 2.01 0.03
From individual food items 2.15 0.00 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Randall, J.E., 1967
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. oophagy)
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