Chocolate Surgeonfish (species: Acanthurus pyroferus) in Lady Elliot Island (Gaia Guide)
Lady Elliot Island > Marine Vertebrates > Actinopterygii > Acanthuridae > Acanthurus pyroferus (gallery)
Acanthurus pyroferus
Chocolate Surgeonfish


©Brian Gratwicke: Chocolate Surgeonfish (Acanthurus pyroferus)

©Dennis Polack: Unsexed Chocolate Surgeonfish (Acanthurus pyroferus)

©John E. Randall: Juvenile Chocolate Surgeonfish (Acanthurus pyroferus)

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Acanthuridae
Genus Acanthurus
Species Acanthurus pyroferus

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Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

Juveniles can exhibit 3 different color patterns mimicking Centropyge species. Caudal fin rounded in juveniles (FishBase).

Size

  • Up to 25 cm (Total Length)

Depth range

  • From 4 m to 60 m

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Occurs in lagoon and seaward reefs; prefers areas of mixed coral, rock, or sand at the base of reefs or ledges. Also on silty reefs (FishBase).

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island: Uncommon in the Lizard Island area.

Web resources

References

  • Allen, G., R. Steene, P. Humann and N. Deloach (2003). Reef fish identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA.
  • Clements, K.D. (1991). Gut microorganisms of surgeonfishes (Family Acanthuridae), Ph.D. thesis, James Cook University, Townsville. LIRS catalog number 321.
  • Clements, K.D., G.R. Russ, D. McB. Williams and A.M. Ayling (1988). A species list of the family Acanthuridae (Pisces) of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, with notes on latitudinal distribution patterns,manuscript only. LIRS catalog number 242.
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