Scientific Name
Acanthurus nigrofuscus

Common Name
Brown surgeonfish

Biology
Found on hard substrates of shallow lagoon and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone to a depth of more than 15 m (Ref. 27825). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feed on filamentous algae. Form spawning aggregations (Ref. 27825, 48637). Adults usually in small groups, but form large schools in some oceanic locations. Juveniles are often seen in mixed species aggregations (Ref. 48637). Species at the bottom of the 'pecking order' among surgeon fishes, and as a result employs the strategy of feeding in large schools that overwhelm the territorial defenses of other herbivores (Ref. 1602). Caught with nets (Ref. 30573). Can be eaten both raw and cooked (Ref. 7364). Maximum depth reported at 25m (Ref. 027115)

Classification

Classified By

Forssk?l, 1775

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Transkei, South Africa (Ref. 3145) and east to the Hawaiian and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, and Rapa (Austral Islands).

Range

31°N - 34°S, 3°E - 123°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

25 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 25 m (Ref. 48637), usually 2 - 25 m (Ref. 27115)

Trophic Level

2 s.e. 0.00 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

21.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=1.00-1.72; tm=2)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 31637)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated