Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) > Acanthurinae
Etymology: Acanthurus: Greek, akantha = thorn + Greek, oura = tail (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Steindachner.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 5 - 200 m (Ref. 7345), usually 5 - 40 m (Ref. 27115). Tropical; 20°C - 25°C (Ref. 27115); 31°N - 15°S, 27°W - 14°E
Eastern Atlantic: from the coasts of Morocco to Angola (Ref. 3149); including Cape Verde archipelagos and the Canaries. Also recorded from southern Spain, Tunisia, Algeria, Israel and Greece (Ref. 112505).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 45.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3148); common length : 38.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3148)
Coastal species found in the mouth of rivers and lagoons (Ref. 7345). Found on rocky and coral bottoms (Ref. 2683). Feeds on zooplankton, phytoplankton and detritus (Ref. 28587). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 27115.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Desoutter, M., 1990. Acanthuridae. p. 962-964. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 7345)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
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