Acanthurus nigrofuscus

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Acanthurus nigrofuscus
Acanthurus nigrofuscus by NPS.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Acanthuridae
Genus: Acanthurus
Species:
A. nigrofuscus
Binomial name
Acanthurus nigrofuscus
(Forsskål, 1775)
Synonyms [2]
  • Chaetodon nigrofuscus Forsskål, 1775
  • Acanthurus rubropunctatus Rüppell, 1829
  • Ctenodon rubropunctatus (Rüppell, 1829)
  • Acanthurus fuliginosus Lesson, 1831
  • Hepatus fuliginosus (Lesson, 1831)
  • Acanthurus lineolatus Valenciennes, 1835
  • Hepatus lineolatus (Valenciennes, 1835)
  • Acanthurus matoides Valenciennes, 1835
  • Hepatus lucillae Fowler, 1938
  • Teuthis lucillae (Fowler, 1938)

Acanthurus nigrofuscus, the brown surgeonfish, blackspot surgeonfish, brown tang, dusky surgeon, lavender tang or spot-cheeked surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornishes and tangs. This species is a common and abundant fish occurring across a wide Indo-Pacific range.

Contents

Taxonomy

Acanthurus nigrofuscus was first formally described as Chaetodon nigrofuscus in 1775 by the Swedish-speaking Finnish explorer, orientalist and naturalist Peter Forsskål with its type locality given as Jeddah. [3] The genus Acanthurus is one of two genera in the tribe Acanthurini which is one of three tribes in the subfamily Acanthurinae which is one of two subfamilies in the family Acanthuridae. [4]

Etymology

Acanthuurus nigrofuscus was given the subspecific name, nigrofuscus combining nigro, meaning "black", with fuscus, meaning "dark" a reference to the dusky or brownish-black colour of this fish. [5]

Description

Acanthurus nigrofuscus has 9 spines and between 24 and 27 soft rays supporting its dorsal fin while the anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 22 to 24 soft rays. [2] The dorsal profile of the head his slightly humped. [6] The overall colour varies from brown to purplish to bluish-brown marked with small orange spots on the head and breast. There are small black spots at the base of both the dorsal and anal fins, these fins have a pale blue margin. The spine on the caudal peduncle is contained within a patch of black pigment. [7] There may or may not be sinuous horizontal lines of small blue dots. [8] This species has a maximum published total length of 21 cm (8.3 in). [2]

Distribution and habitat

Acanthurus nigrofuscus has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution from the coast of eastern Africa as far north as the Israeli Red Sea coast [1] and south as far as far south as the Aliwal Shoal in South Africa, [8] across the Indian Ocean and into the Indian Ocean as far east as and the Pitcairn Islands and Hawaii, north as far as southern Japan and south as far as New South Wales. [1] This is a numerous and common surgeonfish that is found in small schools on sheltered coral and rocky reefs, frequently around isolated rocky reefs at depths down to 25 m (82 ft). [7]

Biology

Acanthurus nigrofuscus grazes on benthic algae. [8] Although typically encountered in small groups it will form large schools in oceanic areas, as well as gathering in large spawning aggregations. This is a relatively small surgeonfish and may be dominated by other larger species but the large schools they form can displace other grazing fish. [2]

Symbiotic bacteria

Acanthurus nigrofuscus has been found to be the host of an unusually large symbiotic bacteria discovered in its intestine, Epulopiscium fishelsoni , this species has been found to grow as large as 600 by 80 μm, a little smaller than a printed hyphen, which controls the pH of its host's gut, thereby influencing its host's ability to digest food and absorb nutrients. [9] [10]

Utilisation

Acanthurus nigrofuscus is taken as bycatch in some fisheries, [1] and the flesh is consumed either raw or cooked. [2] It is taken for the aquarium trade. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Acanthurus</i> Genus of fishes

Acanthurus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs, found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. They are found in tropical oceans, especially near coral reefs, with most species in the Indo-Pacific but a few are found in the Atlantic Ocean. As other members of the family, they have a pair of spines, one on either side of the base of the tail which are dangerously sharp.

<i>Acanthurus triostegus</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus triostegus, the convict surgeonfish, convict surgeon, convict tang or fiveband surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sohal surgeonfish</span> Species of fish

The sohal surgeonfish or sohal tang, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the northwestern Indian Ocean.

<i>Acanthurus achilles</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus achilles, the Achilles tang, redtail surgeonfish or redspot surgeonfish, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the Pacific Ocean.

<i>Acanthurus leucosternon</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus leucosternon, commonly known as the blue surgeonfish, powder blue tang or powder-blue surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indian Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctorfish tang</span> Species of fish

The doctorfish tang, also known as the doctorfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. These fishes are found in the western Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Acanthurus mata</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus mata, the pale surgeonfish, blue-lined surgeonfish, mata surgeonfish, striped surgeonfish, tailring surgeon, white-tail lancet or yellowmask surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Ctenochaetus</i> Genus of fishes

Ctenochaetus, or bristletooth tangs, is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region. They have many, small flexible teeth and some species have the common name bristletooth.

<i>Acanthurus pyroferus</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus pyroferus, chocolate surgeonfish, mimic surgeonfish, orange-gilled surgeonfish, Pacific mimic surgeon, and yellowspot surgeon, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes the sugeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Acanthurus tristis</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus tristis, the Indian Ocean mimic surgeonfish, blackcheek surgeonfish or yellowspot surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the eastern Indian Ocean.

<i>Acanthurus nigricans</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus nigricans, the goldrim surgeonfish, velvet surgeon, whitecheek surgeonfish, yellow-banded surgeonfish or yellowrimmed surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found from the central Indo-Pacific area to the eastern Pacific coast, Hawaii included.

<i>Acanthurus maculiceps</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus maculiceps, the white-freckled surgeonfish, yellow-freckled surgeonfish, pale-lined surgeonfish,spotted-faced surgeonfish or earbar surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific region.

<i>Ctenochaetus striatus</i> Species of fish

Ctenochaetus striatus, the striated surgeonfish, lined bristletooth, fine-lined bristletooth or striped bristletooth, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicoornfishes and tangs This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<i>Acanthurus nigricauda</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus nigricauda, the epaulette surgeonfish, black-barred surgeonfish, eye-line surgeonfish, shoulderbar surgeonfish, white-tail surgeonfish or blackstreak surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Acanthurus auranticavus</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus auranticavus, the ringtail surgeonfish or orange-socket surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific.

<i>Acanthurus bariene</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus bariene, the bariene surgeonfish, black-spot surgeonfish, or eye-spot surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific.

<i>Acanthurus fowleri</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus fowleri, Fowler's surgeonfish or the horseshoe surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes or tangs. This fish is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.

Acanthurus reversus is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is endemic to French Polynesia.

<i>Acanthurus thompsoni</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus thompsoni, the night surgeonfish, chocolate surgeonfish, Thompson's surgeonfish, Thompson's tang or whitetail surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<i>Ctenochaetus truncatus</i> Species of fish

Ctenochaetus truncatus, the Indian gold-ring bristletooth, squaretail bristletooth, yelloweye bristletooth, truncate bristletooth or spotted yellow eye tang, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the Indian Ocean.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Choat, J.H.; McIlwain, J.; Abesamis, R.; et al. (2012). "Acanthurus nigrofuscus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T178019A1523035. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T178019A1523035.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Acanthurus nigrofuscus" in FishBase. June 2023 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Acanthurus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  4. ↑ J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 497–502. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6.
  5. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (12 January 2021). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 2): Families EPHIPPIDAE, LEIOGNATHIDAE, SCATOPHAGIDAE, ANTIGONIIDAE, SIGANIDAE, CAPROIDAE, LUVARIDAE, ZANCLIDAE and ACANTHURIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Acanthurus nigrofuscus". Reef Life Survey. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Acanthurus nigrofuscus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 John E. Randall (2022). "Family Acanthuridae". In Phillip C Heemstra; Elaine Heemstra; David A Ebert; Wouter Holleman; John E Randall (eds.). Coastal Fishes of the Western Indian Ocean (PDF). Vol. 5. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. pp. 219–244. ISBN   978-1-990951-32-9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  9. ↑ Angert ER, Clements KD, Pace NR (1993). "The largest bacterium". Nature. 362 (6417): 239–241. doi:10.1038/362239a0. PMID   8459849.
  10. ↑ Angert ER, Brooks AE, Pace NR (1996). "Phylogenetic analysis of Metabacterium polyspora: Clues to the evolutionary origin of Epulopiscium spp., the largest bacteria". Journal of Bacteriology. 178 (5): 1451–6. PMC   177821 . PMID   8631724.
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