Ocean surgeon

Species of fish

Ocean surgeon

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification
Domain:  | Eukaryota
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Actinopterygii
Order:  | Acanthuriformes
Family:  | Acanthuridae
Genus:  | Acanthurus
Species:  |

A. bahianus

Binomial name
Acanthurus bahianus

Castelnau, 1855

The ocean surgeon or ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus) is a tropical fish known to live in reefs in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil. It is sometimes marketed as a food item,[2] but it is more often used as bait, or in tropical saltwater aquaria.

## Description[edit]

Ocean surgeons are known by their oval bodies with uniform color (usually blue-gray to dark brown), the pale to dark marking around the eyes, and the light yellow is now found on their bodies. Most have blue or white markings on the dorsal fin, anal fin, and tail fins and pale bands can sometimes be seen at the base of their tails. They often swim in schools with other species such as the Atlantic blue tang surgeonfish. They have been recorded up to 38 cm (15 in) in length. Ocean surgeons have a total of 9 spines on their dorsal fins and between 23 and 26 soft rays. Their anal fins have only 3 spines and between 21 and 23 rays. Their caudal fins are roughly emarginate, and the surgeonfish's body and head are both deep and compressed.[3][4]

## Distribution and habitat[edit]

Ocean surgeons inhabit coral reefs, where they feed on algae.[5] In the southern and central Atlantic, the Ocean surgeon can be found along the coast of Brazil from the states of Maranhão, south to Stanta Caterinha.[6] This range includes many islands such as Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Trindade, Ascension Island, and St. Helena.[6]

## References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Acanthurus bahianus.

1. ^ Choat, J.H.; Abesamis, R.; Clements, K.D.; McIlwain, J; Myers, R.; Nanola, C.; Rocha, L.A.; Russell, B.; Stockwell, B. (2012). "Acanthurus bahianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T177985A1511595. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T177985A1511595.en. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
2. ^ Baensch, H.A. and H. Debelius (1997). Meerwasser atlas. Mergus Verlag GmbH, Postfach 86, 49302, Melle, Germany. 3rd edition.
3. ^ Randall, J.E. (1996). Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3rd ed. ISBN 978-0793801176
4. ^ Smith, C.L. (1997). National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York.
5. ^ Randall, J.E. (1967). "Food habits of reef fishes of the West Indies" (PDF). Stud. Trop. Oceanogr. Miami. 5: 665–847.
6. ^ a b Bernal, M.A. and L.A. Rocha, 2011. Acanthurus tractus Poey, 1860, a valid western Atlantic species of surgeonfish (Teleostei, Acanthuridae), distinct from Acanthurus bahianus Castelnau, 1855. Zootaxa 2905:63-68.

## External links[edit]

* Photos of Ocean surgeon on Sealife Collection

Taxon identifiers|

* Wikidata: Q1094327
* Wikispecies: Acanthurus bahianus
* BOLD: 52248
* CoL: 92LV
* FishBase: 68792
* GBIF: 5209181
* iNaturalist: 62604
* IRMNG: 10761141
* ITIS: 172252
* IUCN: 177985
* NCBI: 157584
* WoRMS: 159578

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