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WoRMS taxon details

Acanthuridae 
AphiaID: 125515

Classification: Biota > Animalia (Kingdom) > Chordata (Phylum) > Vertebrata (Subphylum) > Gnathostomata (Superclass) > Pisces (Superclass) > Actinopterygii (Class) > Perciformes (Order)
Status accepted
Record
status
 Checked by Taxonomic Editor
Rank Family
Parent Perciformes
Sources  basis of record: van der Land, J.; Costello, M.J.; Zavodnik, D.; Santos, R.S.; Porteiro, F.M.; Bailly, N.; Eschmeyer, W.N.; Froese, R. (2001). Pisces, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 357-374 (look up in IMIS[details]

additional source: Eschmeyer, W.: Catalog of fishes; California Academy of Sciences, department Ichtyology., available online at http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp [details]

Vernacular
Names
 
Language   Name 
English surgeonfishes  [details]
English tangs  [details]
English unicornfishes  [details]
Direct child
taxa

[show all]
 Subfamily Acanthurinae
  » Genus Acanthurus Forsskål, 1775
» Genus Ctenochaetus Gill, 1884
» Genus Hepatus Gronow, 1763
» Genus Paracanthurus Bleeker, 1863
» Genus Zebrasoma Swainson, 1839
» Genus Teuthis Browne, 1789 (nomen dubium)
» Genus Acronurus Gronow in Gray, 1854 accepted as Acanthurus Forsskål, 1775
» Genus Acronurus Günther (ex Gronow), 1861 accepted as Acanthurus Forsskål, 1775
» Genus Choetodon accepted as Chaetodon Linnaeus, 1758
» Genus Ctenodon accepted as Acanthurus Forsskål, 1775
» Genus Harpurina accepted as Acanthurus Forsskål, 1775
» Genus Harpurus accepted as Acanthurus Forsskål, 1775
» Genus Rhombotides Bleeker (ex Klein), 1863 accepted as Acanthurus Forsskål, 1775
» Genus Rhombotides Klein, 1775 accepted as Acanthurus Forsskål, 1775
» Genus Teuthis Linnaeus, 1766 accepted as Acanthurus Forsskål, 1775
» Genus Zabrasoma accepted as Zebrasoma Swainson, 1839
Subfamily Nasinae
  » Genus Naso Lacepède, 1801
» Genus Aspisurus accepted as Acanthurus Forsskål, 1775
» Genus Monoceros Bloch & Schneider, 1801 accepted as Naso Lacepède, 1801
» Genus Priodon accepted as Naso Lacepède, 1801
» Genus Prionolepis accepted as Naso Lacepède, 1801
Subfamily Prionurinae
  » Genus Prionurus
» Genus Naseus Commerson in Lacepède, 1801 accepted as Naso Lacepède, 1801
» Genus Xesurus accepted as Prionurus

Genus Axinurus Cuvier, 1829 accepted as Naso Lacepède, 1801
Genus Callicanthus Swainson, 1839 accepted as Naso Lacepède, 1801
Genus Cyphomycter Fowler & Bean, 1929 accepted as Naso Lacepède, 1801
Genus Rhinodactylus Smith, 1957 accepted as Naso Lacepède, 1801
Environment marine
Links To GenBank
To ITIS
Note  Description: Circumtropical, especially around coral reefs; five species in the Atlantic, the remaining in the Pacific and Indian oceans. All have a deep compressed body with the eye high on the head and a long preorbital bone. Single unnotched dorsal fin with 4-9 spines and 19-33 rays; anal fin with 2 (only Naso) or 3 spines and 18-28 rays; pelvic fins with 1 spine and 3 (Naso and Paracanthurus) or 5 rays. Very small ctenoid scales. A small terminal mouth with a single row of close-set teeth. Most surgeon fishes graze on benthic algae and have a long intestine; some feed mainly on zooplankton or detritus. Surgeon fishes are able to slash other fishes with their sharp caudal spines by a rapid side sweep of the tail. Many species have bright colors and are popular aquarium fishes. [details]
LSID urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:125515
Taxonomic
Edit history
 
Date   action   by
2004-12-21 15:54:05Z  created  van der Land, Jacob
  
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  Citation: WoRMS (2013). Acanthuridae. In: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2013) FishBase. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=125515 on 2013-05-24
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