Acanthurus olivaceus

(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Vernacular names
English : Orangespot surgeonfish
French : Poisson chirurgien à épaulettes orange

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

Identification
Adults reach a maximum length of 35 cm. Forehead can be slightly bulbous with a ridge. Coloration can be yellow, grey or olive with back half of flanks darker. Purple-edged large orange spot on first half of flanks. Tail fin spotted.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in eastern Indian Ocean around Cocos Keeling and Christmas Islands, then in Pacific from Japan to Lord Howe island, east to Hawaii. Lives in seaward reefs, in areas with bare rock and boulders, from 3 to 46 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a wide range but is globally uncommon. It is regularly collected for the aquarium trade in Asia but this isn’t considered a threat.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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