Acanthurus leucosternon

(Bennett, 1833)

Vernacular names
English : Powderblue surgeonfish
French : Poisson chirurgien à poitrine blanche

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

Identification
Maximum length is 54 cm. Unmistakable. Face is black with white chin and undercheeks. Dorsal and pectoral fins yellow. Caudal fin white and black, anal and pelvic fins white. Body is bright blue, caudal peduncle is bright yellow.

Range and habitat
This species is only found around the Indian Ocean and occurs from East Africa to Andaman Sea and western Indonesia (as far as Bali). Inhabits clear coral reefs, usually on reef flats, down to 25 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species remains locally abundant but has declined in unprotected parts of its range because of over-harvesting for aquarium trade.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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