Acanthurus pyroferus

(Kittlitz, 1834)

Vernacular names
English : Chocolate surgeonfish
French : Poisson chirurgien mimétique

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Acanthuriformes (sometimes still Perciformes)
Family : Acanthuridae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Maximum length is 29 cm. Elongated face. Coloration varies from chocolate brown to almost black. Dark area around eyes and gill coverts. Orange breast. Caudal fin is edged yellow. Juveniles can mimic three Centropyge species.

Range and habitat
This species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area and is found from Seychelles to Tuamoto Islands, north to Japan, south to Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. Lives in lagoons and seaward rocky and coral reefs, down to 60 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is at least locally common within its range. It’s targeted by collectors for aquarium trade but this hasn’t caused any decline so far.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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