surgeonfish

surgeonfish
/serr"jeuhn fish'/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) surgeonfish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) surgeonfishes.
any tropical, coral-reef fish of the family Acanthuridae, with one or more sharp spines near the base of the tail fin.
[1870-75, Amer.; SURGEON + FISH; so called from the resemblance of its spines to a surgeon's instruments]

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or tang

Any of about 75 species (family Acanthuridae) of thin, deep-bodied, tropical marine fishes that are small-scaled, with a single dorsal fin and one or more distinctive, sharp spines on either side of the tail base.

The spines resemble a surgeon's scalpel and may be either fixed or hinged at the rear so that they can be opened outward and directed forward. Surgeonfishes are mostly algae eaters and usually do not exceed 20 in. (50 cm) long. The yellow surgeon, or yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens), is an Indo-Pacific species, and the blue tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) is found in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

Surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucosternon)

Jane Burton
Bruce Coleman Ltd.

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fish
also called  tang 
 any of about 75 species of thin, deep-bodied, tropical marine fishes of the family Acanthuridae (order Perciformes). Surgeonfishes are small-scaled, with a single dorsal fin and one or more distinctive, sharp spines that are located on either side of the tail base and can produce deep cuts. The spines, which resemble a surgeon's scalpel, may be either fixed in place or hinged at the rear so they can be opened outward and directed forward.

      Surgeonfishes are mostly algae eaters. They develop from a transparent larva (acronurus) and, with growth, may change considerably in form or colour. Their maximum length usually does not exceed 50 cm (20 inches). Species include the yellow surgeon, or yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens), an Indo-Pacific species about 20 cm (8 inches) long and coloured either bright yellow or deep brown; the blue tang (Acanthurus coeruleus), an Atlantic and Caribbean fish, yellow when young but more or less blue when adult; and the manini (A. triostegus sandvicensis), a form common in Hawaii.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • surgeonfish — ☆ surgeonfish [sʉr′jənfish΄ ] n. pl. surgeonfish or surgeonfishes (see FISH) any of a family (Acanthuridae) of edible, usually brightly colored, tropical percoid sea fishes with one or more movable, lancelike spines on either side of the base of… …   English World dictionary

  • surgeonfish — /ˈsɜdʒənfɪʃ / (say serjuhnfish) noun (plural surgeonfish or surgeonfishes) any tropical coral reef fish of the family Acanthuridae, with one or more spines near the base of the tail fin. Usage: For variation in the plural inflection, see note at… …  

  • surgeonfish — noun Date: 1871 any of a family (Acanthuridae) of tropical bony fishes that have a laterally compressed body and typically a movable spine on each side of the body near the base of the tail capable of inflicting a painful wound …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • surgeonfish — noun Any of many brightly coloured fishes, of the family Acanthuridae, that have an erect spine near the tail …   Wiktionary

  • surgeonfish — noun (plural same or surgeonfishes) a tropical marine fish with a scalpel like spine on each side of the tail. [Family Acanthuridae: many species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • surgeonfish —   Kala, manini, api, kakakī; kole (see saying kole); mahaha, na ena e; mā i i i; pāku iku i, palani pualu, puwalu …   English-Hawaiian dictionary

  • surgeonfish — noun brightly colored coral reef fish with knifelike spines at the tail • Hypernyms: ↑percoid fish, ↑percoid, ↑percoidean • Hyponyms: ↑doctorfish, ↑doctor fish, ↑Acanthurus chirurgus • …   Useful english dictionary

  • Ocean Surgeonfish — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii …   Wikipedia

  • Elongate surgeonfish — Taxobox name = Acanthurus mata image width = regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Perciformes familia = Acanthuridae genus = Acanthurus species = A. mata binomial = Acanthurus mata binomial authority = Bennett, 1833 …   Wikipedia

  • Sohal surgeonfish — Taxobox name = Sohal surgeonfish image width = 240px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Perciformes familia = Acanthuridae subfamilia = Acanthurinae genus = Acanthurus species = A. sohal binomial = Acanthurus… …   Wikipedia

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