Epaulette surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricauda) fish species and information / pictures of Epaulette surgeonfish - Acanthurus nigricauda

Epaulette surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricauda) fish species information

Scientific Name
Acanthurus nigricauda

Common Name
Epaulette surgeonfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-28; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 23 - 26. Color in life dark brown without lines on body or spots on head (one phase is purplish grey); horizontal black band behind upper gill opening absent on juveniles

Classification

Classified By
Duncker & Mohr, 1929
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Perch-like fish (Perciformes)
Family
Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)

Distribution

Region
Indo-Pacific
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa, including the Mascarene Islands (Ref. 37792) to the Tuamoto Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to southern Great Barrier Reef. Not occurring in the Red Sea.
Range
30°N - 24°S, 39°E - 143°W

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
23 °C
Water Temperature To
28 °C
Depth From - meters
1 m
Depth To - meters
30 m
Zone
reef-associated
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 9710), usually 2 - 15 m (Ref. 27115)
Trophic Level
2.99 s.e. 0.40 Based on food items.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
True
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
True
Is kept in Aquariums
True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
40.0 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 vulnerability (25 of 100)
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)
Threat To Humans
  Poisonous to eat (Ref. 4795)
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated