Acanthurus triostegus

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Acanthurus triostegus
Convict Surgeonfish, Acanthurus triostegus.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. triostegus
Binomial name
Acanthurus triostegus
Synonyms [2]
  • Chaetodon triostegus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Acanthurus triostegus triostegus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Hepatus triostegus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Rhombotides triostegus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Teuthis triostegus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Harpurus fasciatus Forster, 1801
  • Acanthurus zebra Lacepède, 1802
  • Chaetodon couaga Lacepède, 1802
  • Teuthis australis Gray, 1827
  • Acanthurus hirundo Bennett, 1829
  • Acanthurus subarmatus Bennett, 1840
  • Acanthurus pentazona Bleeker, 1850
  • Rhombotides pentazona (Bleeker, 1850)
  • Acanthurus triostegus sandvicensis Streets, 1877
  • Hepatus sandvicensis (Streets, 1877)
  • Teuthis sandvicensis (Streets, 1877)
  • Teuthis elegans Garman, 1899
  • Teuthis troughtoni Whitley, 1928
  • Acanthurus triostegus marquesensis Schultz & Woods, 1948

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

Acanthurus triostegus was first formally described in 1758 as Chaetodon triostegus by Carl Linnaeus, the description being published in the 10 edition of Systema Naturae with its type locality given as "Indies". [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

Acanthurus triostegus was given the specific name triostegus which means "three covers", this may refer to the three branchiostegal membranes. [5]

Description

The convict tang is so called because of its bold black stripes on a yellowish background. It is a laterally-compressed oval-shaped fish [6] with a maximum length of about 26–27 cm (10–11 in). [2] [6] The head is small with a pointed snout and a terminal mouth with thick lips. It has six black stripes which distinguishes it from the zebra tang ( Acanthurus polyzona ) which has nine, and has a more restricted range in the Indian Ocean. The first black stripe is oblique and passes through the eye. There are two black spots on the caudal peduncle, and on each side there is a sharp, retractable spine, which is used in offence or defence. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Acanthurus triostegus occurs in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Its range extends from the East African coast and Madagascar to southwestern Japan, Australia and Central America, including many Pacific island groups. It is found over hard bottoms in lagoons, reef slopes, bays and estuaries. Juveniles are common in tide pools, and larger fish are found at depths down to about 90 m (300 ft). [1]

Biology

Acanthurus triostegus frequently feed in the vicinity of freshwater discharges, grazing filamentous algae off the rocks. [2] Typically these tangs graze on filamentous algae growing on coral or rocky substrates. The adults aggregate in large schools to feed and these overwhelm damselfishes attempting to defend their territories. [7] The males and females gather in aggegations to spawn. [8]

Utilisation

Acanthurus triostegus is targeted as a food fish in many parts of its range and in some areas is commercially targeted. In Hawaii it is fished for by recreational anglers and it is also caught 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.

<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 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 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>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 lineatus</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus lineatus, the lined surgeonfish, blue banded surgeonfish, blue-lined surgeonfish, clown surgeonfish, pyjama tang, striped surgeonfish, and zebra 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>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 binotatus</i> Species of fish

Ctenochaetus binotatus, the twospot bristletooth or twospot surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes unicornfishes and tangs. This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<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 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.

<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 leucocheilus</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus leucocheilus, the palelipped surgeonfish or the white-spine 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 Indo-Pacific region.

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

Acanthurus leucopareius, the whitebar surgeonfish or headband 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 Pacific Ocean.

<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.

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

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 Abesamis, R.; Clements, K. D.; Choat, J. H.; et al. (2012). "Acanthurus triostegus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T177965A1504553. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T177965A1504553.en . Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Acanthurus triostegus" 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 2 October 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 2 October 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Lamare, Véronique; Mitel, Cédric (4 August 2018). "Acanthurus triostegus" (in French). DORIS. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ Dianne J. Bray. "Acanthurus triostegus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
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