Yellowspotted sawtail (Prionurus maculatus)

Scientific name: Prionurus maculatus Ogilby, 1887

The Yellowspotted sawtail (Prionurus maculatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Acanthuridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 20–24°C (68–75°F).

Yellowspotted sawtail care at a glance

Temperature: 20–24°C (68–75°F)

Biology

Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-26; Anal soft rays: 23 - 25. Colour bluish grey with narrow vertical yellow bars on side of body and small yellow spots dorsally on body and on head. Keeled peduncular plates blue and black. Keeled peduncular plates usually 3, no scattered small thorn-like plates dorsally and posteriorly to midlateral series (Ref 9808).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Prionurus maculatus
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 45.0
Environment: Marine; brackish; reef-associated
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Southwest Pacific: New South Wales and Lord Howe Island to Queensland; only Capricorn Group and Swains Reefs on the Great Barrier Reef. Also reported from Norfolk, Kermadec, and New Zealand.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)