Acanthurus polyzona

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Acanthurus polyzona
Acanthurus polyzona Reunion.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. polyzona
Binomial name
Acanthurus polyzona
(Bleeker, 1868) [2]
Synonyms [2]
  • Acanthurus triostegus polyzona (Bleeker, 1868)
  • Rhombotides polyzona Bleeker, 1868

Acanthurus polyzona, commonly known as the black-barred surgeonfish [3] or zebra tang, [4] is a tropical fish found in coral reefs in the western Indian Ocean. [5] It was first described in 1868 by the Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker, who gave it the name Rhombotides polyzona; it was later transferred to the genus Acanthurus , becoming Acanthurus polyzona. [2]

Contents

Description

Acanthurus polyzona is a laterally flattened fish, roughly the shape of an almond, and can grow to a length of about 20 cm (8 in). The head is short with a pointed snout and a terminal mouth with thick lips. The eyes are large and the two pairs of nostrils are immediately in front of the eyes. The overall colour of this fish is a very pale yellow, rather more olive-grey dorsally and more silvery-white ventrally. Superimposed on this pale background are nine broad black bands, narrowing slightly towards the belly; the first band passes through the eye, the second extends from the front of the dorsal fin to the base of the pectoral fins, and the eight and ninth bands are on the caudal peduncle. On either side of the peduncle is a small, retractable spine. [6]

The only fish with which it is likely to be confused is the "convict tang" ( Acanthurus triostegus ); that species has a yellower background colour and just six vertical, rather more slender black bands. It is more widely distributed, and even within the zebra tang's restricted range, the convict tang is the common of the two. [6]

Distribution

Acanthurus polyzona has a rather restricted distribution in the tropical western Indian Ocean, its range including Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion and the Comoro Islands. It lives in shallow reef habitats, [5] in lagoons and on outer reef slopes, over sandy, rocky or coral seabeds at depths down to about 15 m (50 ft). [6]

Ecology

The zebra tang is diurnal and feeds on algae, especially filamentous algae. It often associates with shoals of convict tangs, taking advantage of the protection given by numbers. [6] The juveniles, which are similar to the adults in markings but rather more elongated, associate with young convict tangs. The reproduction of this fish has not been studied, however the growth rate of young fish is fast so that there may be a doubling of a population in as little as 15 months. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acanthuridae</span> Family of fishes with caudal spines

Acanthuridae are a family of ray-finned fish which includes surgeonfishes, tangs, and unicornfishes. The family includes about 86 extant species of marine fish living in tropical seas, usually around coral reefs. Many of the species are brightly colored and popular in aquaria.

<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.

<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 bahianus</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus bahianus, the ocean surgeon or ocean surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found on reefs in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil. It is sometimes marketed as a food item, but it is more often used as bait, or in tropical saltwater aquaria.

<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 olivaceus</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus olivaceus, the orange-band surgeonfish, the orange-shoulder surgeonfish or the orangebar tang, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, this family includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. It lives in the tropical waters of the Indo-west Pacific.

<i>Zebrasoma scopas</i> Species of fish

Zebrasoma scopas, the brown tang, twotone tang, scopas tang or brush-tail tang, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. The brown tang is found throughout Oceania and is a herbivorous fish, feeding predominantly on filamentous algae. It is a highly popular fish in the aquarium trade.

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

Acanthurus nigroris, the bluelined surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species and A. nigros have been regarded as synonymous with the combined taxon having a wide Indo-Pacific distribution, if treated as a separate valid species it is confined to the United States Pacific islands.

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

Acanthurus dussumieri, commonly known as Dussumier's surgeonfish, the eye-stripe surgeonfish or the ornate surgeonfish, is a ray-finned fish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a maximum length of 54 cm (21 in) but 35 cm (14 in) is a more usual size.

<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>Acanthurus nigrofuscus</i> Species of fish

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 familyAcanthuridae, which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornishes and tangs. This species is a common and abundant fish occurring across a wide Indo-Pacific range.

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

Acanthurus blochii, the ringtail surgeonfish or dark surgeonfish, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific.

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

The doubleband surgeonfish or lieutenant tang, is a marine ray-finned fish in the family Acanthuridae. It is found in the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific region and grows to a maximum length of 31 cm (12 in).

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

Acanthurus guttatus, the whitespotted surgeonfish, spotted surgeonfish, mustard surgeonfish, mustard tang or spotband surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes or tangs. It is found in shallow waters on reefs in the Indo-Pacific.

<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>Stegastes fuscus</i> Species of fish

Stegastes fuscus, the dusky damselfish, is a species of bony fish in the family Pomacentridae found near the seabed in shallow waters on the western fringes of the Atlantic Ocean.

References

  1. Russell, B.; McIlwain, J.; Choat, J.H.; et al. (2012). "Acanthurus polyzona". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T177984A1511423. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T177984A1511423.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Bailly, Nicolas (2020). "Acanthurus polyzona (Bleeker, 1868)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  3. "Common names for Acanthurus polyzona". fishbase.org.
  4. Adams, Jake (21 June 2013). "The Zebra Tang has come to US and UK aquariums". Reef Builders. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  5. 1 2 "'Acanthurus polyzona". fishbase.org.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Bourjon, Philippe & Sittler, Alain-Pierre (16 February 2014). "Acanthurus polyzona" (in French). DORIS. Retrieved 6 August 2020.