ACANTHURUS MACULICEPS - (AHL, 1923)
Picture courtesy of: Aquarium Fish (Link)
Poisson-chirurgien à tête ponctuée, Spotted-face surgeonfish, Spot-face surgeon, Earbar surgeonfish, White-freckled surgeonfish, Irezuminiza, イレズミニザ, 倒吊, 頭斑刺尾鯛,
Synonyme
Hepatus maculiceps (Ahl, 1923)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 22-24; Pectoral fin rays: 1-17; Gill rakers on anterior row: 19-23, on posterior row: 21-24; Body depth: 2.0-2.1 in SL; Caudal peduncle spine: 3.1-3.2 in HL. Caudal fin of adults lunate, the caudal concavity 3.5-3.7 in SL. Large adults develop a distinctly convex head profile. Max. length: 40.0 cm SL. Depth range: 1 - 15 m.
Color
Brown in color when preserved; A black bar on upper edge of gill opening; Head spotted; A less intense dark mark just behind the eye, connected narrowly with the dark bar; A dark brown region around the caudal spine; Outer third of upper pectoral rays pale yellow. Capable of alterning color from very dark brown to pale yellowish over most of its body.
Etymology
Acanthurus: from Greek, akantha = thorn, prickle, spine + from Greek, oura = tail. Referring to sharp scalpel-like scales on caudal peduncle (hence the common names surgeonfish and doctorfish).
maculiceps: from Latin, maculatus = stain, make spotted + from Latin suffix, -ceps = head. Referring to numerous white spots on head.
Original description: Hepatus maculiceps Ahl, 1923 - Type locality: Talassia, New Pomerania [Kikiwiei/Comet Harbour, New Britain, Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Sea, western Pacific, ca. 5°32'S, 149°43'E].
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Maldives east to Marshall Islands and Line Islands, south to Kimberley (Western Australia), Queensland (Australia), New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Samoa; Waifs reaching Hawaiian Islands.
Biology
Inhabits clear outer reef flats and seaward reefs. Benthopelagic. Solitary or in small wide-ranging groups. Usually in schools of mixed similar species when grazing algae.
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 22-24; Pectoral fin rays: 1-17; Gill rakers on anterior row: 19-23, on posterior row: 21-24; Body depth: 2.0-2.1 in SL; Caudal peduncle spine: 3.1-3.2 in HL. Caudal fin of adults lunate, the caudal concavity 3.5-3.7 in SL. Large adults develop a distinctly convex head profile. Max. length: 40.0 cm SL. Depth range: 1 - 15 m.
Color
Brown in color when preserved; A black bar on upper edge of gill opening; Head spotted; A less intense dark mark just behind the eye, connected narrowly with the dark bar; A dark brown region around the caudal spine; Outer third of upper pectoral rays pale yellow. Capable of alterning color from very dark brown to pale yellowish over most of its body.
Etymology
Acanthurus: from Greek, akantha = thorn, prickle, spine + from Greek, oura = tail. Referring to sharp scalpel-like scales on caudal peduncle (hence the common names surgeonfish and doctorfish).
maculiceps: from Latin, maculatus = stain, make spotted + from Latin suffix, -ceps = head. Referring to numerous white spots on head.
Original description: Hepatus maculiceps Ahl, 1923 - Type locality: Talassia, New Pomerania [Kikiwiei/Comet Harbour, New Britain, Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Sea, western Pacific, ca. 5°32'S, 149°43'E].
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Maldives east to Marshall Islands and Line Islands, south to Kimberley (Western Australia), Queensland (Australia), New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Samoa; Waifs reaching Hawaiian Islands.
Biology
Inhabits clear outer reef flats and seaward reefs. Benthopelagic. Solitary or in small wide-ranging groups. Usually in schools of mixed similar species when grazing algae.