Yellowmask Surgeonfish (species: Acanthurus xanthopterus) in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Acanthurus xanthopterus
Yellowmask Surgeonfish


©Mark Shepherd: Acanthurus xanthopterus about 28 cm long at Clam Garden, Lizard Island

©Anne Hoggett: Acanthurus xanthopterus at Cobia Hole, Lizard Island.

©Mark Shepherd: Acanthurus xanthopterus about 20 cm long in Ferrier's Creek, Lizard Island.
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Acanthuridae
Genus Acanthurus
Species Acanthurus xanthopterus

Colours

                             

Distinguishing features

Body colour varies from pale blue/grey to brown. Yellowish pectoral fins and a yellowish band through the eye are distinctive. Often a white ring around the tail base but not always. Tail spines dark.

Size

  • Up to 58 cm (Length of specimen)

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Comments

Allen et al (2003) note that this is the largest surgeonfish, growing to 58 cm.

by Anne Hoggett

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Areas of turf algae and coral rubble on sheltered lagoonal reef flats and slopes, and sandy substrata close to reef edges.

Found in most reef habitats around the island, usually near areas of sand along reef margins.

Behaviour

The Yellowmask Surgeonfish is a roving detritivore, moving around the reef usually singly or in small groups, and feeding on the organic detritus that accumulates on sandy and turf algal covered substrata. The surgeonfish are a very long lived group of fishes - after settlement to the reef, juveniles grow quickly and reach 80% of their maximum size in about 3 years, and then grow very slowly thereafter. Many of them live from 30-50years. They spawn in groups during the warmer months, when fast running tidal currents coincide with dawn and dusk.

Web resources

Danger

  • unspecified - There are a pair of poisonous bony knives at the base of the tail, which can be used to inflict a painful stabbing wound if the fish is handled.

References

References that assist with identification

  • Allen, G., R. Steene, P. Humann and N. Deloach (2003). Reef fish identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA.

Other references

  • Choat, J.H. and L.M. Axe (1996). Growth and longevity in acanthurid fishes; an analysis of otolith increments, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 134: 15-26. LIRS catalog number 460.
  • Clements, K.D. (1991). Gut microorganisms of surgeonfishes (Family Acanthuridae), Ph.D. thesis, James Cook University, Townsville. LIRS catalog number 321.
  • View all references