Mimic Surgeonfish, Acanthurus pyroferus Kittlitz 1834
Other Names: Chocolate Surgeonfish, Mimic Surgeon, Orange-gilled Surgeonfish, Pacific Mimic Surgeon, Yellowspot Surgeon
A Mimic Surgeonfish, Acanthurus pyroferus, at Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia. Source: Graham Edgar / Reef Life Survey. License: CC by Attribution
Summary:
A yellowish-brown surgeonfish with a white band around the mouth, an orange to black margin around the eye, a dark band from the chin to the top of the gill cover, an orange area around the pectoral fin base, and a yellow margin on the caudal fin.
The yellow juveniles mimic several species of pygmy angelfish of the genus Centropyge, depending on where they occur - C. flavissima, C. heraldi and C. vrolikii.
The yellow juveniles mimic several species of pygmy angelfish of the genus Centropyge, depending on where they occur - C. flavissima, C. heraldi and C. vrolikii.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2022, Acanthurus pyroferus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/1030
Mimic Surgeonfish, Acanthurus pyroferus Kittlitz 1834
More Info
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Distribution |
Offshore reefs of north Western Australia, Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and the northern Great Barrier Reef , and reefs in the Coral Swa, to Moreton Bay, Queensland, with juveniles to Montague Island, New South Wales; also Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in the Eastern Indian Ocean. Elsewhere the species occurs in the tropical, west-central Pacific. |
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Feeding |
A grazer/detritivore - feeds on detritus and sediment. |
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Etymology |
The specific name pyroferus is from the Latin pyro- (= fire) and fero (= carry, bear), presumably in reference to the orange patch above the pectoral-fin base. |
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Species Citation |
Acanthurus pyroferus Kittlitz 1834, Mus. Senckenberg. 1: 191, fig. 2, pl. 12. Type locality: Woleai Atoll (= Oleai,Atoll), Caroline Islands (as Ulea Island). |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2022 |
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Resources |
Mimic Surgeonfish, Acanthurus pyroferus Kittlitz 1834
References
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