ZipcodeZoo.com

Acanthurus chronixis

(Chronixis Surgeonfish, Mimic Surgeonfish)

Overview:

Family: Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes; Found over sand and coral bottoms of clear channels (Ref. 9710). Juveniles probably occur on reef flats (Ref. 9710). Attains a maximum size over 28 cm (Ref. 9710). Rare and not commercial (J.E. Randall, pers. comm.).

Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]
  • Domain: Eukaryota - eukaryotes
    • Kingdom: Animalia Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
      • Subkingdom: Bilateria (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians

About the family Acanthuridae:

Distribution: Circumtropical, especially around coral reefs; five species in the Atlantic, the remaining in the Pacific and Indian oceans. All have a deep compressed body with the eye high on the head and a long preorbital bone. Single unnotched dorsal fin with 4-9 spines and 19-31 rays; anal fin with 2 (only Naso) or 3 spines and 19-36 rays; pelvic fins with 1 spine and 3 (Naso and Paracanthurus) or 5 rays. Very small ctenoid scales. A small terminal mouth with a single row of close-set teeth. Most surgeon fishes graze on benthic algae and have a long intestine; some feed mainly on zooplankton or detritus. Surgeon fishes are able to slash other fishes with their sharp caudal spines by a rapid side sweep of the tail. Pelagic spawners. Many species have bright colors and are popular aquarium fishes.

The family Acanthuridae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 6 genera and 72 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Many members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is labriform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period. Etymology of this family name: Greek, akantha = thorn + oura = tail

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name.

Distribution

[ Back to top ]

Range and Population

Western Pacific: Kapingamarangi, Caroline Islands. Reports from other areas are probably misidentifications of the juvenile stages of Acanthurus pyroferus (J.E. Randall, pers. comm.).

Habitat

[ Back to top ]

Biome

Saltwater. Reef-associated.

Similar Species

[ Back to top ]

Bibliography

[ Back to top ]
  • Anon. (2001). On reef fisheries exploitation and trade in Indonesia. p. 41-44. In Country Status Overview 2001on reef fisheries exploitation and trade in Indonesia. Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Telepak Indo. Found. And International Mari
  • Burgess, W.E., H.R. Axelrod and R.E. Hunziker III (1990). Dr. Burgess's Atlas of Marine Aquarium Fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey. 768 p.
  • Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno and T. Yoshino (1984). The fishes of the Japanese Archipelago. Vol. 1 (text). Tokai University Press, Tokyo, Japan. 437 p. (text), 370 pls.
  • Myers, R.F. (1991). Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p.
  • Randall, J.E. (2001). Surgeonfishes of Hawai'i and the world. Mutual Publishing and Bishop Museum Press, Hawai'i. 123 p.
  • Shen, S.C. (ed.) (1993). Fishes of Taiwan. Department of Zoology, National Taiwan University, Taipei. 960 p.

More Info

[ Back to top ]

Notes

[ Back to top ]

Contributors:

  • Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 21, 2007.
  • FishBase
  • Froese, R., and D. Pauly. FishBase 2004. International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management.
  • Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed June 11, 2006. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 2 providers.
  • Randall, John E. (from FishBase).

Identifiers:

Keep Exploring...

[ Back to top ]
Loading...
Loading...

What is this? Click to find out...

Loading...
Loading...
Last Revised: November 29, 2007