# Acanthurus
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> Source revision: 1354823464
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{{Short description|Genus of fishes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = {{fossilrange|Middle Miocene|present|[Middle Miocene](/source/Middle_Miocene) to present}}
| image = Acanthurus leucosternon 01.JPG
| image_caption = ''[Acanthurus leucosternon](/source/Acanthurus_leucosternon)''
| image2 = Acanthurus achilles (cropped).jpg
| image2_caption = ''[Acanthurus achilles](/source/Acanthurus_achilles)''
| taxon = Acanthurus
| authority = [Forsskål](/source/Peter_Forssk%C3%A5l), 1775
| type_species = [Acanthurus triostegus](/source/Acanthurus_triostegus)
| type_species_authority = ([Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), [1758](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae))
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
| synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets = true|title=List
| ''Acronurus''
{{small|[Gronow](/source/Laurens_Theodorus_Gronovius) in [Gray](/source/John_Edward_Gray) 1854}}
| ''Aspisurus''
{{small|[Lacépède](/source/Bernard_Germain_de_Lac%C3%A9p%C3%A8de), 1802}}
| ''Ctenodon''
{{small|[Swainson](/source/William_Swainson), 1839}}
| ''Harpurina''
{{small|[Fowler](/source/Henry_Weed_Fowler) & [Bean](/source/Barton_Appler_Bean), 1929}}
| ''Harpurus''
{{small|[Johann Reinhold Forster](/source/Johann_Reinhold_Forster), 1788}}
| ''Rhomboteuthis''
{{small|Fowler, 1944}}
| ''Rhombotides''
{{small|[Bleeker](/source/Pieter_Bleeker), 1863}}
| ''Theutis''
{{small|[Bonnaterre](/source/Pierre_Joseph_Bonnaterre), 1788}}
| ''Theutys''
{{small|[Goüan](/source/Antoine_Gouan), 1770}}
}}
| synonyms_ref = [
}}
'''''Acanthurus''''' is a [genus](/source/genus) of marine [ray-finned fish](/source/ray-finned_fish) belonging to the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Acanthuridae](/source/Acanthuridae), which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs, found in the [Atlantic](/source/Atlantic_Ocean), [Indian](/source/Indian_Ocean) and [Pacific Ocean](/source/Pacific_Ocean). They are found in [tropical oceans](/source/tropics), especially near [coral reef](/source/coral_reef)s, with most [species](/source/species) in the [Indo-Pacific](/source/Indo-Pacific) but a few are found in the Atlantic Ocean. As other members of the family, they have a pair of [spines](/source/Spine_(zoology)), one on either side of the base of the [tail](/source/Caudal_fin) which are dangerously sharp.
==Taxonomy==
''Acanthurus'' was first proposed as a [subgenus](/source/subgenus) of ''[Chaetodon](/source/Chaetodon)'' in 1775 by the [Swedish-speaking Finnish](/source/Swedish-speaking_population_of_Finland) [explorer](/source/exploration), [orientalist](/source/oriental_studies) and [naturalist](/source/natural_history) [Peter Forsskål](/source/Peter_Forssk%C3%A5l), although he recognised that it was probably different from ''Chaetodon'' even at the family level. In 1856 [Desmarest](/source/Eug%C3%A8ne_Anselme_S%C3%A9bastien_L%C3%A9on_Desmarest) designated ''Teuthis hepatus'', which had been [described](/source/Species_description) from a [type](/source/Type_(biology)) now known to have been collected at Ambon Island in the Moluccas (other erroneous type localities were named) in 1758 by Linnaeus, as the [type species](/source/type_species) of the genus.][{{Cof family|family=Acanthuridae|access-date=28 August 2023}}][{{Cof genus|genus=Acanthurus|access-date=28 August 2023}}] ''T. hepatus'' is a [synonym](/source/Synonym_(taxonomy)) of ''[Paracanthurus hepatus](/source/Paracanthurus_hepatus)'' and this would make ''Paracanthurus'' synonymous with ''Acanthurus''. An alternative would be to use the name ''Harpurus'' proposed as a [monospecific genus](/source/monospecific_genus) in 1788 by [Johann Reinhold Forster](/source/Johann_Reinhold_Forster) when he described ''Harpurus fasciatus'', a synonym of ''Acanthurus triostegus''. It has been proposed that the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature should be petitioned to stabilise the genera ''Acanthurus'' and ''Paracanthurus''.[{{cite journal |author=[Ronald Fricke](/source/Ronald_Fricke) |year=2008 |title=Authorship, availability and validity of fish names described by Peter (Pehr) Simon Forsskål and Johann Christian Fabricius in the 'Descriptiones animalium' by Carsten Niebuhr in 1775 (Pisces) |journal=Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde A, Neue Serie. |volume=1 |pages=1–76 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235686196}}] In 2014 it was proposed that the type species of ''Acanthurus'' should be ''[Chaetodon sohal](/source/Sohal_surgeonfish)'', which had also been described by Forsskål in 1775 as a member of the subgenus alongside ''[C. bifasciatus](/source/Acanthopagrus_bifasciatus)'', ''[C. nigrofuscus](/source/Acanthurus_nigrofuscus)'' and ''[C. unicornis](/source/Bluespine_unicornfish)'', and had been designated as the type species by [Jordan](/source/David_Starr_Jordan) and [Evermann](/source/Barton_Warren_Evermann) in 1917.[{{cite journal| author=Vahe D. Demirjian | year=2014 |title=''Acanthurus'' Forsskål, 1775 (Osteichthyes, ACANTHURIDAE): proposed conservation by designation of ''Chaetodon sohal'' Forsskål, 1775 as the type species |journal=Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature |volume=71 |issue=2 |pages=81–83 | doi=10.21805/bzn.v71i2.a7 |url=https://www.biotaxa.org/bzn/article/view/38106/32702}}]
It has been proposed that the genus ''[Ctenochaetus](/source/Ctenochaetus)'' should be merged with ''Acanthurus'', as ''Acanthurus'' is currently [paraphyletic](/source/paraphyletic).[{{cite journal |author1=Laurie Sorenson |author2=Francesco Santini |author3=Giorgio Carnevale |author4=Michael E. Alfaro |year=2013 |title=A multi-locus timetree of surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae, Percomorpha), with revised family taxonomy |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=68 |issue=1 |pages=150–160 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2013.03.014 |issn=1055-7903 |pmid=23542000 |bibcode=2013MolPE..68..150S }}][{{Cite journal |last=F. Cowman |first=Peter |date=2019-02-12 |title=Supplementary material from "The evolution of traits and functions in herbivorous coral reef fishes through space and time" |url=https://rs.figshare.com/collections/Supplementary_material_from_The_evolution_of_traits_and_functions_in_herbivorous_coral_reef_fishes_through_space_and_time_/4397657/1 |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society |language=en |doi=10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4397657.v1}}] All ''Ctenochaetus'' species are nested within ''Acanthurus'', while ''[A. nubilis](/source/Acanthurus_nubilus)'' and ''[A. pyroferus](/source/Acanthurus_pyroferus)'' are furthermore nested within ''Ctenochaetus''.[{{cite book |title=Fishes of the World |edition=5th |author1=J. S. Nelson |author2=T. C. Grande |author3=M. V. H. Wilson |year=2016 |pages=497–502 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-34233-6}}]
=== Etymology ===
The [genus name](/source/genus_name) ''Acanthurus'' comes from [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) ἄκανθα (''ákantha''), meaning "spine", and οὐρά (''ourá''), meaning "tail", a reference to the scalpel-like bony plates on the [caudal peduncle](/source/caudal_peduncle), these also give rise to the vernacular English names surgeonfish and doctorfish.[{{cite web |name-list-style=amp |date=12 January 2021 |editor2=Kenneth J. Lazara |title=Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 2): Families EPHIPPIDAE, LEIOGNATHIDAE, SCATOPHAGIDAE, ANTIGONIIDAE, SIGANIDAE, CAPROIDAE, LUVARIDAE, ZANCLIDAE and ACANTHURIDAE |url=https://etyfish.org/acanthuriformes2/ |access-date=10 July 2023 |work=The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database |publisher=Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara |editor1=Christopher Scharpf}}]
== Evolution ==
Fossil remains of ''Acanthurus'' are known from the [Middle Miocene](/source/Middle_Miocene) of the former [Paratethys](/source/Paratethys) region, including Austria, Croatia, Hungary, and Ukraine. The specimens from Austria and Ukraine are assigned to the extinct species †''[Acanthurus haueri](/source/Acanthurus_haueri).'' Their presence coincides with the [Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum](/source/Middle_Miocene_Climatic_Optimum), and they likely inhabited [coralgal](/source/Coralline_algae) and [bryozoan](/source/Bryozoa)-dominated reefs.[{{Cite journal |last=Dubikovska |first=Anastasiia |last2=Górka |first2=Marcin |last3=Skyrpan |first3=Mykola |last4=Bienkowska-Wasiluk |first4=Malgorzata |last5=Barkaszi |first5=Zoltán |last6=Kovalchuk |first6=Oleksandr |date=2025-01-02 |title=New data on the early Badenian (Middle Miocene) bony fishes of the Forecarpathian Basin |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2025.2516023 |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |language=en |volume=45 |issue=1 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2025.2516023 |issn=0272-4634}}][{{Cite journal |last=Tripalo |first=Kristina |last2=Japundžić |first2=Sanja |last3=Sremac |first3=Jasenka |last4=Bošnjak |first4=Marija |date=2016-04-17 |title=First record of Acanthuridae (surgeonfish) from the Miocene deposits of the Medvednica Mt. |url=https://www.geologia-croatica.hr/index.php/GC/article/view/GC.2016.15 |journal=Geologia Croatica |language=en |volume=69 |issue=2 |pages=201–204 |doi=10.4154/GC.2016.15 |issn=1333-4875}}] Previously, specimens from [Monte Bolca](/source/Monte_Bolca) in Italy were also assigned to the modern ''Acanthurus'',[Sepkoski, J.J.Jr (2002): [http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class A Compendium of Fossil Marine Animal Genera.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723131237/http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class|date=23 July 2011}} ''Bulletins of American Paleontology, 363: 1–560.''] but they have since been split into their own genera.[{{Cite journal |last1=Carnevale |first1=G. |last2=Bannikov |first2=Alexandre F. |last3=Marramà |first3=G. |last4=Tyler |first4=James C. |last5=Zorzin. |first5=R. |date=2014 |title=The Bolca Fossil-Lagerstätte: A window into the Eocene World. 5. The Pesciara- Monte Postale Fossil-Lagerstätte: 2. Fishes and other vertebrates. Excursion guide |url=https://iris.unito.it/bitstream/2318/149338/1/Carnevale%20et%20al%202014%20The%20Pesciara%20F-L.%20Fishes%20and%20other%20vertebrates2.pdf |journal=Rendiconti della Società Paleontologica Italiana |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=i–xxvii |hdl=10088/25678}}]
==Distribution==
''Acanthrus'' surgeonfishes are distributed around the world in tropical waters.[{{FishBase genus|genus=Acanthurus|month=June|year=2023}}]
{{Clear}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Species
!Common name
!Image
|-
|''[Acanthurus achilles](/source/Acanthurus_achilles)''
[G. Shaw](/source/George_Kearsley_Shaw), 1803
|Achilles surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus albimento](/source/Acanthurus_albimento)''
[K. E. Carpenter](/source/Kent_E._Carpenter), [J. T. Williams](/source/Jeffrey_Taylor_Williams) & [M. D. Santos](/source/Mudjekeewis_Dalisay_Santos), 2017
|White-chin surgeonfish[Carpenter, K.E., Williams, J.T. & Santos, M.D. (2017): [http://oceansciencefoundation.org/josf/josf25d.pdf ''Acanthurus albimento'', a new species of surgeonfish (Acanthuriformes: Acanthuridae) from northeastern Luzon, Philippines, with comments on zoogeography.] ''Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 25: 33–46.'']
|
|-
|''[Acanthurus albipectoralis](/source/Acanthurus_albipectoralis)''
[G. R. Allen](/source/Gerald_Robert_Allen) & [Ayling](/source/Anthony_Michael_Ayling), 1987
|White-fin surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus auranticavus](/source/Acanthurus_auranticavus)''
[J. E. Randall](/source/John_Ernest_Randall), 1956
|Orange-socket surgeonfish
|
|-
|''[Acanthurus bahianus](/source/Acanthurus_bahianus)''
[Castelnau](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Louis_Nompar_de_Caumont_La_Force%2C_comte_de_Castelnau), 1855
|Barber surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus bariene](/source/Acanthurus_bariene)''
[Lesson](/source/Ren%C3%A9_Primev%C3%A8re_Lesson), 1831
|Black-spot surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus blochii](/source/Acanthurus_blochii)''
[Valenciennes](/source/Achille_Valenciennes), 1835
|Ring-tail surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus chirurgus](/source/Acanthurus_chirurgus)''
([Bloch](/source/Marcus_Elieser_Bloch), 1787)
|Doctorfish tang
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus chronixis](/source/Acanthurus_chronixis)''
J. E. Randall, 1960
|Chronixis surgeonfish
|
|-
|''[Acanthurus coeruleus](/source/Acanthurus_coeruleus)''
Bloch & [J. G. Schneider](/source/Johann_Gottlob_Theaenus_Schneider), 1801
|Atlantic blue tang
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus dussumieri](/source/Acanthurus_dussumieri)''
Valenciennes, 1835
|Eye-stripe surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus fowleri](/source/Acanthurus_fowleri)''
[de Beaufort](/source/Lieven_Ferdinand_de_Beaufort), 1951
|Fowler's surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus gahhm](/source/Acanthurus_gahhm)''
([Forsskål](/source/Peter_Forssk%C3%A5l), 1775)
|Black surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus grammoptilus](/source/Acanthurus_grammoptilus)''
[J. Richardson](/source/John_Richardson_(naturalist)), 1843
|Fine-lined surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus guttatus](/source/Acanthurus_guttatus)''
[J. R. Forster](/source/Johann_Reinhold_Forster), 1801
|White-spotted surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus japonicus](/source/Acanthurus_japonicus)''
([P. J. Schmidt](/source/Peter_Yulevich_Schmidt), 1931)
|Japan surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus leucocheilus](/source/Acanthurus_leucocheilus)''
[Herre](/source/Albert_William_Christian_Theodore_Herre), 1927
|Pale-lipped surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus leucopareius](/source/Acanthurus_leucopareius)''
([O. P. Jenkins](/source/Oliver_Peebles_Jenkins), 1903)
|White-bar surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus leucosternon](/source/Acanthurus_leucosternon)''
[E. T. Bennett](/source/Edward_Turner_Bennett), 1833
|Powder-blue surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus lineatus](/source/Acanthurus_lineatus)''
([Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), [1758](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae))
|Lined surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus maculiceps](/source/Acanthurus_maculiceps)''
([C. G. E. Ahl](/source/Christoph_Gustav_Ernst_Ahl), 1923)
|White-freckled surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus mata](/source/Acanthurus_mata)''
([G. Cuvier](/source/Georges_Cuvier), 1829)
|Elongate surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus monroviae](/source/Acanthurus_monroviae)''
[Steindachner](/source/Franz_Steindachner), 1876
|Monrovia surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus nigricans](/source/Acanthurus_nigricans)''
(Linnaeus, [1758](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae))
|White-cheek surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus nigricauda](/source/Acanthurus_nigricauda)''
[Duncker](/source/Paul_Georg_Egmont_Duncker) & [Mohr](/source/Erna_Mohr) (de), 1929
|Epaulette surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus nigrofuscus](/source/Acanthurus_nigrofuscus)''
(Forsskål, 1775)
|Brown surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus nigroris](/source/Acanthurus_nigroris)''
Valenciennes, 1835
|Blue-lined surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus nigros](/source/Acanthurus_nigros)''
[Günther](/source/Albert_Karl_Ludwig_Gotthilf_G%C3%BCnther), 1861
|Grey-head surgeonfish[Randall, J.E., DiBattista, J.D. & Wilcox, C. (2011): ''Acanthurus nigros'' Günther, a Valid Species of Surgeonfish, Distinct from the Hawaiian ''A. nigroris'' Valenciennes. ''Pacific Science, 65 (2): 265–275.'']
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus nubilus](/source/Acanthurus_nubilus)''
([Fowler](/source/Henry_Weed_Fowler) & [B. A. Bean](/source/Barton_Appler_Bean), 1929)
|Pin-striped surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus olivaceus](/source/Acanthurus_olivaceus)''
Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801
|Orange-spot surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus polyzona](/source/Acanthurus_polyzona)''
([Bleeker](/source/Pieter_Bleeker), 1868)
|Black-barred surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus pyroferus](/source/Acanthurus_pyroferus)''
[Kittlitz](/source/Friedrich_Heinrich_von_Kittlitz), 1834
|Chocolate surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus randalli](/source/Acanthurus_randalli)''
[J. C. Briggs](/source/John_Carmon_Briggs) & [D. K. Caldwell](/source/David_Keller_Caldwell), 1957
|
|
|-
|''[Acanthurus reversus](/source/Acanthurus_reversus)''
J. E. Randall & [Earle](/source/John_L._Earle), 1999
|
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus sohal](/source/Acanthurus_sohal)''
(Forsskål, 1775)
|Sohal surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus tennentii](/source/Acanthurus_tennentii)''
Günther, 1861
|Double-band surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus thompsoni](/source/Acanthurus_thompsoni)''
(Fowler, 1923)
|Thompson's surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus tractus](/source/Acanthurus_tractus)''
[F. Poey](/source/Felipe_Poey_y_Aloy), 1860
|Ocean surgeonfish[Bernal, M.A. & Rocha, L.A. (2011): [http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/zt02905p068.pdf ''Acanthurus tractus'' Poey, 1860, a valid western Atlantic species of surgeonfish (Teleostei, Acanthuridae), distinct from ''Acanthurus bahianus'' Castelnau, 1855.] ''Zootaxa, 2905: 63–68.'']
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus triostegus](/source/Acanthurus_triostegus)''
(Linnaeus, [1758](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae))
|Convict surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus tristis](/source/Acanthurus_tristis)''
J. E. Randall, 1993
|Indian Ocean mimic surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|-
|''[Acanthurus xanthopterus](/source/Acanthurus_xanthopterus)''
Valenciennes, 1835
|Yellow-fin surgeonfish
|frameless|200x200px
|}
=== Fossil species ===
* †''[Acanthurus haueri](/source/Acanthurus_haueri)'' ([von Meyer](/source/Christian_Erich_Hermann_von_Meyer), 1842) ([Middle Miocene](/source/Middle_Miocene) of Austria and Ukraine)[{{cite web | url = https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/en/thefishes/taxon/2155 | title = Genus: Acanthurus, Common Surgeonfish, Surgeonfishes, Tangs | access-date = 29 August 2023 | work = Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system | publisher = [Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute](/source/Smithsonian_Tropical_Research_Institute)}}]
The [Indo-Pacific](/source/Indo-Pacific) [yellowfin surgeonfish](/source/yellowfin_surgeonfish) (''A. xanthopterus'') is the largest species with a maximum published [total length](/source/total_length) of {{cvt|70|cm}} while the smallest is the black-barred surgeonfish (''[A. polyzona](/source/Acanthurus_polyzona)'') with a maximum published total length of {{cvt|11|cm}}.