Acanthurus gahhm

(Forsskal, 1775)

Vernacular names
English : Black surgeonfish
French : Poisson chirurgien noir

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Acanthuriformes (sometimes still Perciformes)
Family : Acanthuridae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow up to 40 cm in length. Large adults are often black, younger specimens are grey to dark grey-brown with conspicuous white tail-ring. Elongated black spot behind eyes, black tail spine. Yellowish area around face.

Range and habitat
The species occurs only in the western Indian Ocean, in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Lives in open areas near corals and rocks, down to 40 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is quite common and encountered in a number of different habitats. Collected for the aquarium trade. Vulnerable to habitat loss.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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