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.
- Common name: Achilles tangScientific name: Acanthurus achilles
- Common name: Whitefin surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus albipectoralis
- Common name: ocean surgeonScientific name: Acanthurus bahianus
- Common name: Black-spot surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus bariene
- Common name: tailring surgeonScientific name: Acanthurus blochii
- Common name: Streifen-DoktorScientific name: Acanthurus chirurgus
- Common name: Blue tangScientific name: Acanthurus coeruleus
- Common name: Eyestripe surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus dussumieri
- Common name: Fowler's surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus fowleri
- Common name: surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus gahhm
- Common name: Whitespotted surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus guttatus
- Common name: Japan surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus japonicus
- Common name: Palelipped surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus leucocheilus
- Common name: Whitebar surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus leucopareius
- Common name: Powder blue tangScientific name: Acanthurus leucosternon
- Common name: Bluelined surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus lineatus
- Common name: White-freckled surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus maculiceps
- Common name: Elongate surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus mata
- Common name: Monrovia doctorfishScientific name: Acanthurus monroviae
- Common name: BitScientific name: Acanthurus nigricans
- Common name: Epaulette surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus nigricauda
- Common name: Brown surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus nigrofuscus
- Common name: Bbuelined surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus nigroris
- Common name: Bluelined surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus nubilus
- Common name: Orange Shoulder TangScientific name: Acanthurus olivaceus
- Common name: Black-barred surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus polyzona
- Common name: Chocolate surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus pyroferus
- Common name: Sohal surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus sohal
- Common name: Doubleband surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus tennentii
- Common name: Chocolate surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus thompsoni
- Common name: convict tangScientific name: Acanthurus triostegus
- Common name: surgeonfishesScientific name: Acanthurus tristis
- Common name: Yellowfin surgeonfishScientific name: Acanthurus xanthopterus
- Common name: Twospot surgeonfishScientific name: Ctenochaetus binotatus
- Common name: whitetail bristletooth tangScientific name: Ctenochaetus flavicauda
- Common name: ChevronScientific name: Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis
- Common name: Striped-fin surgeonfishScientific name: Ctenochaetus marginatus
- Common name: Striated surgeonfishScientific name: Ctenochaetus striatus
- Common name: Spotted surgeonfishScientific name: Ctenochaetus strigosus
- Common name: Tomini surgeonfishScientific name: Ctenochaetus tominiensis
- Common name: Whitemargin unicornfishScientific name: Naso annulatus
- Common name: Humpback unicornfishScientific name: Naso brachycentron
- Common name: Spotted unicornfishScientific name: Naso brevirostris
- Common name: Elegant unicornfishScientific name: Naso elegans
- Common name: Sleek unicornfishScientific name: Naso hexacanthus
- Common name: Orangespine unicornfishScientific name: Naso lituratus
- Common name: Elongate unicornfishScientific name: Naso lopezi
- Common name: Oneknife unicornfishScientific name: Naso thynnoides
- Common name: Bluespine unicornfishScientific name: Naso unicornis
- Common name: Bignose unicornfishScientific name: Naso vlamingii
- Common name: Blue tangScientific name: Paracanthurus hepatus
- Common name: Red Sea Sailfin TangScientific name: Zebrasoma desjardinii
- Common name: Yellow tangScientific name: Zebrasoma flavescens
- Common name: Gem surgeonfishScientific name: Zebrasoma gemmatum
- Common name: Longnose tangScientific name: Zebrasoma rostratum
- Common name: Twotone tangScientific name: Zebrasoma scopas
- Common name: Sailfin TangScientific name: Zebrasoma velifer
- Common name: Yellowtail surgeonfishScientific name: Zebrasoma xanthurum