Stats

Lifespan: 15-25 yrs
Size: Medium
Diet: Herbivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Coral reef
Range: Red Sea
Movement: Swimming
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Spines
Status: Rare

About

A vividly striped surgeonfish found almost exclusively in the Red Sea, where it patrols reef flats with extreme territorial aggression. Like all surgeonfishes it carries a razor-sharp orange spine at the base of the tail — capable of slashing any intruder with a flick of the body.

Life cycle

1.
hatchling fry
A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2.
juvenile
A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3.
adult
Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Acanthuridae
Genus: Acanthurus
Species: Acanthurus sohal