Surgeonfishes
Ocean Surgeonfish
Acanthurus tractus
Species Overview
Oval surgeonfish, yellowish to grayish-brown without dark vertical bars; yellow lines radiate behind the eye; often a pale spot at the tail base; dorsal, anal and caudal fins edged light blue or white; tail lunate, more deeply forked in adults; sharp spine on each side of the tail base.
- Size
- Typically 15-30 cm (6-12 in) per ReefGuide; common length 25 cm TL; maximum 38.1 cm SL (15 in); maturity about 15.5 cm (FishBase, A. tractus).
- Depth range
- ReefGuide 5-25 m; FishBase (A. tractus) 11-45 m.
- Habitat
- Shallow coral or rocky bottoms, including inshore rocky areas with sand patches; occasionally grazes seagrass beds.
- Diet
- Mainly benthic algae, sometimes seagrass (FishBase).
Explore reef conservation
Learn about Caribbean reef habitats, invasive lionfish and the work of the Caribbean Reef Fish Foundation.
TL means total length; SL excludes the tail fin; FL measures to the tail fork. These measurements are not interchangeable.