# Prionurus punctatus

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***Prionurus punctatus***, the **yellowtail surgeonfish**, is a species of marine [ray-finned fish](/source/Ray-finned_fish) belonging to the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Acanthuridae](/source/Acanthuridae), the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the eastern central Pacific Ocean.

## Taxonomy

*Prionurus punctatus* was first formally [described](/source/Species_description) in 1862 by the American biologist [Theodore Gill](/source/Theodore_Gill) with its [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) given as [Cape San Lucas](/source/Cape_San_Lucas) in [Baja California Sur](/source/Baja_California_Sur).[1] The genus *Prionurus* is the only genus in the [tribe](/source/Tribe_(biology)) Prionurini which is one of three tribes in the [subfamily](/source/Subfamily) [Acanthurinae](/source/Acanthurinae) which is one of two subfamiles in the family Acanthuridae.[2] The yellowtail surgeonfish and the razor surgeonfish (*[P. laticlavius](/source/Prionurus_laticlavius)*) are closely related and more work is needed to determine the relationship of these two taxa.[3] Some authorities regard this taxon as a [synonym](/source/Synonym_(taxonomy)) of *P. laticlavius*.[1]

## References

1. J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). *Fishes of the World*. 5th ed. Wiley. pp. 497–502. ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6.

1. Abesamis, R.; Choat, J.H.; Clements, K.D. et al. (2012). "*Prionurus punctatus*". [doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T183646A17253253.en](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T183646A17253253.en). Retrieved 18 August 2023.

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