Doctorfish
📖 Overview
Inhabits shallow reefs or rocky areas. Found in loose aggregations . Mainly diurnal. Ingests sand when feeding on algae . The spine on both sides of the caudal peduncle may inflict painful wounds . Minimum depth reported from Ref. 27115. Larvae are planktonic . At Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in southwestern Atlantic, juveniles hold cleaning stations together with the blue tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) and sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis) and graze algae as well as pick molted skin and parasites from green turtles (Chelonia mydas). This behavior is preceded by a characteristic inspection usually followed by feeding nips on the turtles’ skin (head, limbs, and tail), as well as on the carapace. The most inspected and cleaned body parts are the flippers .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24 - 25; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 22 - 23. Caudal fin slightly emarginate . Body gray, with 10 well-spaced, narrow, darker gray vertical bars on side .: short and / or deep.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Doctorfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 25 m , usually 2 - 15 m . Subtropical; 22°C - 25°C ; 43°N - 30°S, 98°W - 5°W
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Black Doctorfish · Doctorfish · Doctorfish Tang |
| 🏳️Catalan | Peix cirurgià de l'Atlàntic |
| 🌍CES | bodlok chirurg |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Doktorfisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Streifen-Doktorfisch |
| 🌍EST | Atlandi kirurgkala |
| 🇫🇷French | Chirurgien docteur · Chirurgien rayé |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce chirurgo atlantico occidentale · Pesce chirurgo comune · Pesce chirurgo striato |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Yokoshimahagi · ヨコシマハギ |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Pokolec Chirung · pokolec chirurg |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Acaraúna · Acaraúna-preta · Barbeiro · Carauna · Cirurgião · Lanceta · Peixe-barbeiro · Peixe-cirurgião · Peixe-doutor |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Обыкновенная рыба-хирург · хирург обыкновенный |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Cirujano · Doctor · Gallinazo · Navajero · Navajón · Navajón cirujano · Navajón rayado · Sangrador común · Sangrador rayado · barbero rayado · cirujano rayado |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Doctorfish.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 89 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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