Family

Common name: Surgeonfish

Scientific name: Acanthuridae

The Acanthuridae family, commonly known as surgeonfish, tangs, and unicornfish, is a group of marine fish renowned for their vibrant colors and distinctive scalpel-like spines on either side of the caudal peduncle, which can be used for defense. These fish are primarily herbivorous, grazing on algae, which makes them beneficial for controlling algae growth in reef aquariums. They are active swimmers and require ample space and a well-established tank with plenty of live rock for grazing and hiding. Social dynamics are important to consider, as some species can be territorial.

  1. Achilles Tang (Acanthurus achilles)
    Common name: Achilles Tang
    Scientific name: Acanthurus achilles
  2. Whitefin Surgeonfish (Acanthurus albipectoralis)
    Common name: Whitefin Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus albipectoralis
  3. An Ocean Surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus) in Cozumel, Mexico
    Common name: Ocean Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus bahianus
  4. Black-spot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus bariene)
    Common name: Black-spot Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus bariene
  5. Acanthurus blochii (Ringtail Surgeonfish) swims in the aquarium
    Common name: Ringtail Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus blochii
  6. Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus)
    Common name: Doctorfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus chirurgus
  7. Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus), a surgeonfish found in the Atlantic Ocean
    Common name: Blue Tang
    Scientific name: Acanthurus coeruleus
  8. Acanthurus dussumieri
    Common name: Eyestripe Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus dussumieri
  9. Fowler's Surgeonfish (Acanthurus fowleri) swimming next to a large school of Smoothtail Trevallies (Selaroides leptalopsis), Bali Indonesia
    Common name: Fowler's Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus fowleri
  10. Black Surgeonfish (Acanthurus gahhm) swimming in the blue sea water
    Common name: Black Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus gahhm
  11. Closeup shot of Whitespotted Surgeonfish (Acanthurus guttatus)
    Common name: Whitespotted Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus guttatus
  12. Powder Brown Tang (Acanthurus japonicus)
    Common name: Powder Brown Tang
    Scientific name: Acanthurus japonicus
  13. Common name: Pale-lipped Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus leucocheilus
  14. Common name: Whitebar Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus leucopareius
  15. Acanthurus leucosternon
    Common name: Powder Blue Tang
    Scientific name: Acanthurus leucosternon
  16. Lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) with its blue and yellow lines
    Common name: Lined Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus lineatus
  17. Spotted-face or White-freckled Surgeonfish (Acanthurus maculiceps)
    Common name: Spotted-face Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus maculiceps
  18. Underwater shot of Acanthurus mata
    Common name: Elongate Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus mata
  19. Common name: Monrovia Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus monroviae
  20. Whitecheek Surgeonfish
    Common name: Whitecheek Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus nigricans
  21. Epaulette Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricauda)
    Common name: Epaulette Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus nigricauda
  22. A Brown Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) in the Red Sea, Egypt
    Common name: Brown Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus nigrofuscus
  23. Common name: Bluelined Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus nigroris
  24. Common name: Bluelined Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus nubilus
  25. Orangeband Surgeonfish (Acanthurus olivaceus)
    Common name: Orange Shoulder Tang
    Scientific name: Acanthurus olivaceus
  26. Black-barred Surgeonfish (Acanthurus polyzona) on black background
    Common name: Black-barred Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus polyzona
  27. Beautiful bright orange fish in the aquarium, Chocolate Surgeonfish (Acanthurus pyroferus)
    Common name: Chocolate Tang
    Scientific name: Acanthurus pyroferus
  28. Close-up view of a Sohal Tang (Acanthurus sohal)
    Common name: Sohal Tang
    Scientific name: Acanthurus sohal
  29. Acanthurus tennenti
    Common name: Doubleband Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus tennentii
  30. Thompson's Surgeonfish (Acanthurus thompsoni)
    Common name: Thompson's Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus thompsoni
  31. Convict Surgeonfish
    Common name: Convict Tang
    Scientific name: Acanthurus triostegus
  32. Juvenile Indian Ocean Mimic Surgeonfish (Acanthurus tristis), mimicking Centropyge eibli
    Common name: Indian Ocean Mimic Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus tristis
  33. Yellowfin Surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus)
    Common name: Yellowfin Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Acanthurus xanthopterus
  34. Two-spot Bristletooth or Blue Eye Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus binotatus)
    Common name: Two-spot Bristletooth
    Scientific name: Ctenochaetus binotatus
  35. Whitetail Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus flavicauda)
    Common name: Whitetail Bristletooth Tang
    Scientific name: Ctenochaetus flavicauda
  36. The swimming appearance of the Chevron Tang with beautiful stripes
    Common name: Chevron Tang
    Scientific name: Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis
  37. Common name: Blue-spotted Bristletooth
    Scientific name: Ctenochaetus marginatus
  38. Striated surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) in Red Sea, Egypt
    Common name: Striated Surgeonfish
    Scientific name: Ctenochaetus striatus
  39. Yellow Eyed Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
    Common name: Kole Tang
    Scientific name: Ctenochaetus strigosus
  40. Tomini Surgeonfish or Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis)
    Common name: Tomini Tang
    Scientific name: Ctenochaetus tominiensis
  41. Squaretail Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus truncatus)
    Common name: Squaretail Bristletooth
    Scientific name: Ctenochaetus truncatus
  42. The Whitemargin Unicornfish (Naso annulatus) is white in color with a seal on the head in the form of a horn
    Common name: Whitemargin Unicornfish
    Scientific name: Naso annulatus
  43. Humpback Unicornfish (Naso brachycentron)
    Common name: Humpback Unicornfish
    Scientific name: Naso brachycentron
  44. Spotted Unicornfish swimming in the aquarium
    Common name: Spotted Unicornfish
    Scientific name: Naso brevirostris
  45. Orange-spine Unicornfish (Naso elegans) in the Red Sea, Egypt
    Common name: Elegant Unicornfish
    Scientific name: Naso elegans
  46. A Sleek Unicornfish (Naso hexacanthus) in the Red Sea, Egypt
    Common name: Sleek Unicornfish
    Scientific name: Naso hexacanthus
  47. Orangespine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus) is found in the Indian and Pacific Ocean
    Common name: Orangespine Unicornfish
    Scientific name: Naso lituratus
  48. Common name: Elongate Unicornfish
    Scientific name: Naso lopezi
  49. Common name: Oneknife Unicornfish
    Scientific name: Naso thynnoides
  50. A unique horned fish, the Bluespine Unicornfish (Naso unicornis)
    Common name: Bluespine Unicornfish
    Scientific name: Naso unicornis
  51. Bignose Unicornfish (Naso vlamingii) couple close up
    Common name: Bignose Unicornfish
    Scientific name: Naso vlamingii
  52. Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) in reef aquarium
    Common name: Blue Tang
    Scientific name: Paracanthurus hepatus
  53. Indian Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma desjardinii)
    Common name: Indian Sailfin Tang
    Scientific name: Zebrasoma desjardinii
  54. Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
    Common name: Yellow Tang
    Scientific name: Zebrasoma flavescens
  55. Gem Tang (Zebrasoma gemmatum)
    Common name: Gem Tang
    Scientific name: Zebrasoma gemmatum
  56. Black Longnose Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma rostratum)
    Common name: Longnose Tang
    Scientific name: Zebrasoma rostratum
  57. Scopas Tang (Zebrasoma scopas)
    Common name: Scopas Tang
    Scientific name: Zebrasoma scopas
  58. Zebrasoma veliferum
    Common name: Sailfin Tang
    Scientific name: Zebrasoma veliferum
  59. Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)
    Common name: Purple Tang
    Scientific name: Zebrasoma xanthurum