Striped Surgeonfish

Acanthurus lineatus

Habitat & Distribution :  Indo-Pacific Ocean

Diet: Algae

Size: 38 cm

Lifespan: 11 - 30 years

Description

Distinguished by its vibrant, elongated body with horizontal, black-edged blue and yellow stripes along the upper three-quarters of its body. The underside is a pale violet-silver, while the caudal, dorsal, and anal fins are dark blue, and the tail is lunate

Behavior

The lined surgeonfish is a highly territorial and aggressive reef-dweller, known for defending algae-rich feeding areas, particularly in shallow reef flats. They are solitary or live in harems and use venomous, razor-sharp tail spines for defense and combat.

Reproduction

Lined surgeonfish are polygynandrous, territorial, and reproduce through group broadcast spawning in outer reef channels. They spawn year-round

Communication & Perception

Lined surgeonfish communicate primarily through rapid color changes to signal agitation, territoriality, or mating readiness, often brightening or shifting to white on their caudal fins

Predator(s)

Sharks, groupers and other larger predatory fish