- Check the sub-map for the specimen information files -
SURGEONFISH - ACANTHURIDAE
The Acanthuridae family is divided into three sub-family. The scalpel surgeonfish (Acanthurinae) which has only one pair of scalpels on the tail-base, the unicornfish (Nasinae) who has two pairs of scalpels and the sawfish (Prionurinae) which has three to six pairs of scalpels at the tail-base. Surgeonfish are very common in the shallow waters of lagoons and on outer reefs. They have thin oval bodies with long continious dorsal and anal fins. They constantly cruise over the reef to feed on algae during the day, which they scrape off dead corals or rocks. They also will eat small crustaceans and worms will be digested with pleasure. The genus Ctenochaetus are the only ones in the family who feed on detritus. Unicornfish are plankton feeders and find their food in open water. Acanthuridae are very territorial and protect their areas from competition, both solitary or those in a group. When defending themselves or their territory, they bend their tail fin eighty degrees so the scalpels on their tail base protrudes further. These sharp knifes will even be used when there is trouble in the family. Surgeonfish are slow swimmers because they only use their pectoral fins to swim and the tail fin for steering, that's why they make up and down movements when swimming. Finding out the sex of the surgeonfish is very hard underwater. There are as good as no differences between the males and females. Only during mating season do some of the males change color. The unicornfish make it easier to identify because the males swim around with a bigger nose than the females. Reproduction happens during winter or spring time but depends on the position of the moon. Mating happens in pairs or in groups. They swim side by side towards the surface and on a certain moment they both change direction in a u-shaped curve while spawning. The fertilized eggs than will be transported to open sea by the current. Because the larvae stage takes a long time, surgeonfish are well spread out and can be found in all tropical seas.
- Check the sub-map for the specimen information files - 