Scientific Name
Acanthurus pyroferus

Common Name
Chocolate surgeonfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-30; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 24 - 28. Purplish black in color; an orange diffused patch at edge of gill opening, just above pectoral fin base; a broad black band from upper end of gill opening to margin of gill cover down to isthmus; caudal spine socket with a narrow black margin. Blackish lips; a trace of orange behind eye; a white line under chin extending slightly above rictus. Gill rakers on anterior row 23-26; on posterior row 25-27. Juveniles can exhibit 3 different color patterns mimicking Centropyge species. Caudal fin rounded in juveniles.

Classification

Classified By

Kittlitz, 1834

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Seychelles to the Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. Replaced by Acanthurus trisits from the Maldives and Chagos Islands to Bali (Ref. 37816).

Range

32°N - 24°S, 55°E - 143°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

26 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

4 m

Depth To - meters

60 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 4 - 60 m (Ref. 1602), usually 5 - 40 m (Ref. 27115)

Trophic Level

2 s.e. 0.00 Based on food items.

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

25.0 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 (29 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.422; Tmax=28)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated