Surgeon Fish facts and photos

SURGEON FISH

Surgeon fishes are medium-sized tropical fishes and common, easily recognized inhabitants of Galapagos reefs. There are three species in the islands, the yellow-tailed (Prionurus laticlavius, see below), which is the commonest, the purple (Acanthurus xanthopterus) and the goldrimmed (A. nigricans). In some places they are very abundant, with schools comprising hundreds. They are called surgeon fish on account of sharp spines protruding just in front of the tail, which are a defense against predators. These are as sharp as a surgeon's scalpel and they can cut through skin. Surgeon fish eat algae and small organisms growing on reefs. They move en masse, overwhelming smaller, less numerous inhabitants such as damselfish that guard small gardens of algae.

Stunning Reef Fish,Butterfly Fish-Photos

Yellow Fish
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School of Butterfly Fish Swimming on the Seabed
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Two Butterfly Fish Swimming by Coral
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Slideshow

This butterfly fish is a common inshore species found throughout the Hawaiian islands and so far reported nowhere else. Easily identified by the crochet-like spots forming approximately 11 vertical rows from the pectoral to the anal fins. Recently divers have reported seeing this fish picking parasites off of other fishes. Grows to about 6".