Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) (Bloch, 1787)

 

Synonyms: Acanthurus phlebotomus, Chaetodon chirurgus, Doctorfish Tang, Black Doctorfish

 

 

Acanthurus chirurgus occurs in the Western Atlantic from Bermuda and South Carolina to southeastern Brazil, in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea; also in Eastern Atlantic from Senegal to the Gulf of Guinea. It is found at coral reefs, rocks, wrecks, over sandy bottoms and turtlegrass beds at depths 2-50 m. Juveniles inhabit seagrass beds and mangroves. The body is oval-shaped, compressed, blue-gray to dark brown or black, with 10-12 vertical side bars; length 35-39 cm; up to 5 kg in weight. Doctorfish feeds on benthic algae; juveniles attend cleaning stations. Often forms aggregations with congenerics or unrelated fishes, e.g., grunts (Haemulidae).

 

		D31141 Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus), left Little Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago Stoplight Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) Princess Parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus) Trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculates) Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D52668 Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus), centre White Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) North Bimini, Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D52649 Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) White Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) North Bimini, Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D52659 Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) White Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) North Bimini, Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D52663 Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) White Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) North Bimini, Bahamas Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D27785 Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) Roatán, Islas de la Bahía Honduras Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
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