Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) > Acanthurinae
Etymology: Acanthurus: Greek, akantha = thorn + Greek, oura = tail (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Randall.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 6 m (Ref. 37792). Tropical; 2°N - 1°N
Western Pacific: Kapingamarangi Atoll, Caroline Islands. Possibly endemic of that atoll. Reports from other areas are likely misidentifications of the juvenile stages of Acanthurus pyroferus (J.E. Randall, pers. comm.), e.g. from Taiwan (Shao et al., 2008).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 28.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37792)
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 24. Caudal fin lunate. Life colour unknown. Preserved specimen is dark brown with two small oval spots, one above and the other slightly behind the upper end of the gill opening, and a dark brown band at the base of the dorsal fin.
Found over sand and coral bottoms of clear channels (Ref. 9710). Juveniles probably occur on reef flats (Ref. 9710). Rare and not commercial (J.E. Randall, pers. comm.).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02344 (0.01118 - 0.04914), b=2.95 (2.78 - 3.12), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.2 ±0.1 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (18 of 100).