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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Whitecheek surgeonfish

Acanthurus nigricans Linnaeus, 1758
Max Length
36 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
34 yrs
Trophic Level
2
Depth
0–67 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
64.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Adults inhabit hard substrate areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone to at least 67 m and feeds on filamentous algae. Solitary or in groups . Monogamous . Benthopelagic . Small juveniles shy among large corals . Territorial species. Common throughout Micronesia and hybridizes with the rare A. achilles. Size of metamorphosis from the postlarva stage to juvenile is 5.5 to 6 cm . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Scientific Name
Acanthurus nigricans
Authority
Linnaeus, 1758
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
36 cm
Lifespan
34 years
Depth Range
0–67 m
Latitude
24°S – 30°N
Trophic Level
2
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
64.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Water Temp
21–29 °C
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28 - 31; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 26 - 28. A horizontally elongate white blotch directly below eye. No orange band in outer part of dorsal fin. Caudal peduncle black except for yellow edge of socket and sheath of peduncular spine. Base of pectoral fin black (ref 9808).Gill rakers on anterior row:17-19, on posterior row:18-20. : short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Whitecheek surgeonfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

algae
aquatic plants
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

Monogamous mating is observed as both facultative and social .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range 0 - 67 m , usually 2 - 67 m . Tropical; 21°C - 29°C ; 30°N - 24°S known only from Cocos-Keeling Islands and Christmas Island.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
2
🧍 Solitary
Food Items

filamentous algae

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.02188 × L2.95 (TL)
Max TL
36cm
Dorsal Spines
9
Dorsal Rays
30
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
27

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
21–29°C
Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2010

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
64.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
2
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
30°N – 24°S
Described By
Linnaeus, 1758

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Black Surgeonfish · Blackear Surgeonfish · Gold-rim Tang · Golden Rim Surgeonfish · Goldrim Surgeonfish · Gray Surgeonfish · Velvet Surgeon · Velvet Surgeonfish · White-cheeked surgeonfish · Whitecheek surgeonfish · Whiteface Surgeonfish · Whitetail Surgeonfish · Yellow Spotted Surgeonfish · Yellow-banded Surgeonfish · Yellowfin tang · Yellowrimmed Surgeonfish · backsurgeonfish
🏳️Catalan Peix cirurgià de galta blanca
🌍CES bodlok zlatolemý
🇩🇰Danish Hvidhovedet Kirurgfisk
🇩🇪German Goldrand-Doktorfisch
🌍FIJ dridri
🇫🇷French Chirurgien Noirâtre · Chirurgien à joue blanche · Chirurgien à joue blanche, Chirurgien à marques jaunes · Chirurgien à joues blanches · Chirurgien à marques jaunes
🇮🇹Italian Pesce chirurgo bruno
🇯🇵Japanese Megane-kurohagi · Meganekurohagi · メガネクロハギ
🌍MAH Bir · Tiebro-ael
🌍MAL പല · പാള · Pala
🌍MSA Botana biru palsu · Dengkis
🇵🇹Portuguese Cirurgião-veludo
🌍SMO I'usina · Laulama
🇪🇸Spanish Cirujano Filo Amarillo · Cirujano de Cara Blanca · Navajón Cariblanco · Pez Cirujano · Pez Cirujano de Filo Amarillo · cirujano cariblanco
🌍SWA Kangaja
🇸🇪Swedish Filippinsk Kirurgfisk
🌍TAH Maito a'au · maito a'au, maito 'aero 'uo'uo
🌍TGL Dabahita · Labahita · Papakol · Samarel
🇨🇳Chinese 白面刺尾鯛

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 16 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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