Dr. Paddy Ryan, USA
Info
Prionurus punctatus T. N. Gill, 1862
Prionurus punctatus, also known as Yellowtail Surgeonfish, is found in coral reefs from the Gulf of California to El Salvador.
The Yellowtail Surgeonfish has an overall gray appearance with its entire body being covered with dense small black spots. It has a bright yellow tail making for an easy identification. The Yellowtail Surgeonfish has a dark bar running horizontally through the eye and another through the shoulder. It has three pairs of white bony scalpel-like plates along the sides of the tail base.
Prionurus punctatus feed on Benthic algae. In an aquarium they must be fed frequently, mainly vegetables.
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The surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae), popular in marine aquaristics, are also called surgeonfishes.
They have horn-like blades in front of the tail root, they use as mainly defensive weapon (defense) against predators, but this sharp weapon is also used in fights among themselves.
Deep cuts in the body of opponents can cause permanent injuries, but often death occurs immediately.
If surgeonfishes are to be kept in pairs in an aquarium, fights between the fishes can be the order of the day, we could observe this several times with the very popular Hawaiian surgeonfish (Zebrasoma flavescens).
The scalpel-like blades can cause deep cuts, this is also true for the careless aquarist who wants to touch or catch the fish with unprotected hands.
Another problem can occur if one wants to catch surgeonfish with a landing net and transfer them after catching, the horn blade can easily get caught in the net.
Caution: Careless handling of the animal can cause deep cuts!
Synonymised names
Xesurus punctatus (Gill, 1862) · unaccepted
Prionurus punctatus, also known as Yellowtail Surgeonfish, is found in coral reefs from the Gulf of California to El Salvador.
The Yellowtail Surgeonfish has an overall gray appearance with its entire body being covered with dense small black spots. It has a bright yellow tail making for an easy identification. The Yellowtail Surgeonfish has a dark bar running horizontally through the eye and another through the shoulder. It has three pairs of white bony scalpel-like plates along the sides of the tail base.
Prionurus punctatus feed on Benthic algae. In an aquarium they must be fed frequently, mainly vegetables.
hma
The surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae), popular in marine aquaristics, are also called surgeonfishes.
They have horn-like blades in front of the tail root, they use as mainly defensive weapon (defense) against predators, but this sharp weapon is also used in fights among themselves.
Deep cuts in the body of opponents can cause permanent injuries, but often death occurs immediately.
If surgeonfishes are to be kept in pairs in an aquarium, fights between the fishes can be the order of the day, we could observe this several times with the very popular Hawaiian surgeonfish (Zebrasoma flavescens).
The scalpel-like blades can cause deep cuts, this is also true for the careless aquarist who wants to touch or catch the fish with unprotected hands.
Another problem can occur if one wants to catch surgeonfish with a landing net and transfer them after catching, the horn blade can easily get caught in the net.
Caution: Careless handling of the animal can cause deep cuts!
Synonymised names
Xesurus punctatus (Gill, 1862) · unaccepted
