Chocolate surgeonfish (Acanthurus pyroferus) fish species and information / pictures of Chocolate surgeonfish - Acanthurus pyroferus

Chocolate surgeonfish (Acanthurus pyroferus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Acanthurus pyroferus

Common Name
Chocolate surgeonfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-30; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 24 - 28. Purplish black in color; an orange diffused patch at edge of gill opening, just above pectoral fin base; a broad black band from upper end of gill opening to margin of gill cover down to isthmus; caudal spine socket with a narrow black margin. Blackish lips; a trace of orange behind eye; a white line under chin extending slightly above rictus. Gill rakers on anterior row 23-26; on posterior row 25-27. Juveniles can exhibit 3 different color patterns mimicking Centropyge species. Caudal fin rounded in juveniles.

Classification

Classified By
Kittlitz, 1834
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Perch-like fish (Perciformes)
Family
Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)

Distribution

Region
Indo-Pacific
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Seychelles to the Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. Replaced by Acanthurus trisits from the Maldives and Chagos Islands to Bali (Ref. 37816).
Range
32°N - 24°S, 55°E - 143°W

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
26 °C
Water Temperature To
28 °C
Depth From - meters
4 m
Depth To - meters
60 m
Zone
reef-associated
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 4 - 60 m (Ref. 1602), usually 5 - 40 m (Ref. 27115)
Trophic Level
2 s.e. 0.00 Based on food items.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
True
Is kept in Aquariums
True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
25.0 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (29 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.422; Tmax=28)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated