Acanthurus tractus

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Acanthurus tractus
Acanthurus bahianus SI2.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. tractus
Binomial name
Acanthurus tractus
F. Poey, 1860 [2]
Acanthurus bahianus range.png
Acanthurus tractus range
Synonyms [2]
  • Acronurus nigriculus Poey, 1875
  • Teuthis tractus (Poey, 1860)

Acanthurus tractus, the five-band surgeonfish, ocean surgeon, or ocean surgeonfish, [1] [3] [4] is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Acanthuridae found in the western Atlantic Ocean, Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. [4] [5] [6] Until recently, it was considered a synonym of Acanthurus bahianus , but its status as a separate species was resurrected in 2011. [2] [5]

Contents

Taxonomy

Acanthurus tractus was first formally described in 1860 by the Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey with its type locality given as Cuba. [7] This taxon was considered to be a synonyms of A. bahianus . In 2011 it was shown that the populations in the North Atlantic differ morphologically and genetically from the South Atlantic populations and the northern Atlantic population is now recognised as the valid and distinct species. [5] 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. [8]

Etymology

Acanthurus tractus was given the specific name tractus which means "streak", Poey did not explain what this alluded to but it may refer to the sinuous, yellow horizontal lines on the body. [9]

Description

Acanthurus tractus grows to a length of about 38 cm (15 in), although 25 cm (10 in) is a more typical size. [4] It is a deep-bodied, laterally-compressed oval fish with a steep head profile and large eyes high on the sides of the head. The mouth is small and has protrusible lips. The elongated dorsal fin has nine spines and 23 to 26 soft rays. The elongated anal fin has three spines and 21 to 23 soft rays. The caudal peduncle bears a single depressible spine on either side, and the caudal fin has a concave edge with pointed tips. [10] The colour is somewhat variable, being light beige over sandy substrates and darker brown over rocks. The flanks are sometimes bluish-green, with almost invisible fine vertical striping. Short blue lines radiate from the eye, and the dorsal, anal and caudal fins are edged with blue. The rays of the pectoral fins are often orange, and there is frequently a pale or white ring around the caudal peduncle. [3]

This species could be confused with Acanthurus chirurgus , but that species has about eleven dark vertical stripes on its flanks and its fins are more conspicuously blue. In the Gulf of Mexico, it could be confused with Acanthurus randalli , but that species is rather smaller and has yellower fins. Another similar species is Acanthurus bahianus , but that species has a yellow rather than a blue margin to the dorsal and caudal fins. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Acanthurus tractus is native to the shallow sub-tidal areas of the western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and parts of the Gulf of Mexico. Its range extends from North Carolina to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Florida and Tuxpan, Mexico, including the Caribbean Sea and the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. It is typically found on rocky and coral reefs at depths down to about 56 m (184 ft), [1] but also inhabits rocky shores with patches of sand, and seagrass meadows. [1]

Ecology

Acanthurus tractus is diurnal. It feeds by grazing on the algal film that grows on coral and rock substrates. It swallows sand as it feeds, and this is retained in the thin-walled stomach which acts as a gizzard. [3] This fish grows faster than many other species in the genus, and researchers have found that the fish's longevity depends on the temperature of the water rather than the size of the fish. [3]

Status

Acanthurus tractus is a common species with a widespread distribution; it faces no known major threats, and is neither targeted by the fishing industry nor by the aquarium trade to any great extent. For these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of least concern. [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 surgeionfishes, 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.

<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 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 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 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 Oceam 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 albipectoralis</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus albipectoralis, the whitefin 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 Western Pacific Ocean.

<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.

<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.

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

Acanthurus nubilus, the bluelined surgeon, pin-striped surgeon, dark surgeonfish or dropoff 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 Western Pacific Ocean.

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

Ctenochaetus marginatus, the blue-spotted bristletooth, blue-spotted surgeonfish or striped-fin surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the biology Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. The blue-spotted bristletooth is found in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

The whitechin surgeonfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. It is endemic to the waters of the western Pacific Ocean in the Philippines.

The grey-head 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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Rocha, L.A. & McEachran, J.D. (2017) [errata version of 2015 assessment]. "Acanthurus tractus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T47139706A115398896. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T47139706A47461231.en . Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Bailly, Nicolas (2020). "Acanthurus tractus Poey, 1860". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Didierlaurent, Sylvie & Sutour, Jean-Miche (20 January 2021). "Acanthurus tractus Poey, 1860" (in French). DORIS. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2020). "Acanthurus tractus" in FishBase. December 2020 version.
  5. 1 2 3 Bernal, Moisés A. & Rocha, Luiz A. (2011). "Acanthurus tractus Poey, 1860, a valid western Atlantic species of surgeonfish (Teleostei, Acanthuridae), distinct from Acanthurus bahianus Castelnau, 1855". Zootaxa. 2905 (1): 63–68. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.2905.1.5 .
  6. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Acanthurus tractus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  7. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Acanthurus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ 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 2 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "Species: Acanthurus tractus, Ocean surgeon". Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
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