Scientific Name
Acanthurus nigricans

Common Name
Whitecheek surgeonfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28-31; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 26 - 28. A horizontally elongate white blotch directly below eye. No orange band in outer part of dorsal fin. Caudal peduncle black except for yellow edge of socket and sheath of peduncular spine. Base of pectoral fin black (ref 9808).Gill rakers on anterior row:17-19, on posterior row:18-20.

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Indian Ocean

Distribution

Eastern Indian Ocean: known only from Cocos-Keeling Islands and Christmas Island. Pacific Ocean: Ryukyu Islands and Great Barrier Reef to the Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia (excluding Rapa). This species has crossed the Eastern Pacific Barrier to the Revillagigedo Islands, Cocos Island, Galapagos Islands, and the coast of Mexico.

Range

30°N - 24°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

21 °C

Water Temperature To

29 °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

67 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 67 m (Ref. 1602), usually 2 - 67 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

21.3 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: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (34 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.28; Tmax=34)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated