Acanthurus lineatus

Acanthurus lineatus, the lined surgeonfish, blue banded surgeonfish, blue-lined surgeonfish, clown surgeonfish, pyjama tang, striped surgeonfish, and zebra surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

Acanthurus lineatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Acanthuridae
Genus: Acanthurus
Species:
A. lineatus
Binomial name
Acanthurus lineatus
Synonyms[2]
  • Chaetodon lineatus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Ctenodon lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Harpurus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Hepatus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Rhombotides lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Teuthis lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Acanthurus vittatus Bennett, 1828

Taxonomy

Acanthurus lineatus was first formally described as Chaetodon lineatus by Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae published in 1758 with its type locality given as "Indies".[3] The genus Acanthurus is one of two genera in the tribe Acanthurini which is one of three tribes in the subfamily Acanthurinae which is one of two subfamilies in the family Acanthuridae.[4]

Etymology

Acanthurus lineatus has the specific name lineatus, meaning "lined", a reference to the yellow and blacl lines on the body of this fish.[5]

Description

This species reaches about 38 centimeters in length. Much of the body has black-edged blue and yellow stripes, and the top of the head is striped with yellow. The belly is grayish. The pectoral fins have darkened rays and the pelvic fins are yellow-brown with black margins. Individuals from around the Philippines vary in coloration.[2]

Distribution

A. lineatus occurs in the Indian Ocean from East Africa to the western Pacific Ocean to the Great Barrier Reef, Japan, Polynesia,[2] and Hawaii.

Habitat

The lined surgeonfish is associated with reefs, living in marine waters just a few meters deep. It is benthopelagic.[2]

Behaviour

The fish is territorial, with a large male defending a feeding territory and a harem of females. The adults may also school, and they gather en masse during spawning. The juvenile is solitary. The fish is mostly herbivorous, but might eat crustaceans at times.[2] Most of its diet is algae. It grazes during the day.[1]

Acanthurus lineatus species found in Australia, in the Indian Ocean have a greater defense rate against intruders. Lined surgeonfish in the Indian Ocean have a smaller body size, allowing them to have greater access and abundance of food, due to hurricane damage to reefs, enhancing the overall algal turfs that Acanthurus lineatus feed on.

Human uses

This species is of commercial and ornamental value. It is especially important among the reef fishes of American Samoa. In some areas it is heavily exploited, but it lives in many protected zones and in general it is widespread and common.[1]

References
  1. Choat, J.H.; McIlwain, J.; Abesamis, R.; et al. (2012). "Acanthurus lineatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T177993A1514809. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T177993A1514809.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Acanthurus lineatus" in FishBase. June 2023 version.
  3. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Acanthurus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  4. J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 497–502. ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6.
  5. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (12 January 2021). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 2): Families EPHIPPIDAE, LEIOGNATHIDAE, SCATOPHAGIDAE, ANTIGONIIDAE, SIGANIDAE, CAPROIDAE, LUVARIDAE, ZANCLIDAE and ACANTHURIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
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