Acanthurus fowleri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acanthurus fowleri |
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Fowler's surgeonfish, also known as the horseshoe surgeonfish, is a cool type of fish found in the ocean. It's part of a group called Acanthuridae, which includes surgeonfishes, unicornfishes, and tangs. You can find this colorful fish swimming in the western Pacific Ocean.
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About the Fowler's Surgeonfish
How Scientists Name Fish
Scientists give every living thing a special two-part name, like Acanthurus fowleri. This helps everyone around the world know exactly which animal they are talking about.
This fish was first officially described in 1951. A Dutch scientist named Lieven Ferdinand de Beaufort was the one who gave it its scientific name. He found these fish near islands like Buika Island in Indonesia and Maitara and Gomomo Islands in the Philippines.
Why "Fowler's" Surgeonfish?
The second part of the fish's scientific name, fowleri, honors an American biologist named Henry Weed Fowler. He was a scientist at the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences. Mr. Fowler had actually seen this fish before. However, he thought it was a different species at the time. So, the name is a way to remember his work!
What Does it Look Like?
Fowler's surgeonfish has some unique features that make it easy to spot.
- Fins: Its top fin (dorsal fin) has 9 strong spines and 26 to 28 soft rays. The bottom fin (anal fin) has 3 spines and 25 to 26 soft rays.
- Body Color: The main color of its body is a bluish-grey.
- Head: Its head is a pretty blue color, which sometimes blends into purple.
- Special Mark: One of the most interesting things about this fish is a large, blue or black mark on its side. This mark looks like a horseshoe! It's located near its head, with the open part facing forward. The top of the horseshoe is level with its eye, and the bottom part is near its pectoral fins (the ones on its side).
- Tail: The tail fin (caudal fin) is dark in the middle. Each side of the tail has a yellow band that blends into a white band closer to the body. The very back edge of the tail has a thin blue stripe.
- Size: This fish can grow up to about 45 centimeters (about 1.5 feet) long.
Where Does it Live?
Fowler's surgeonfish lives in the warm, tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean.
- Countries: You can find them around countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. They also live further east, all the way to the Solomon Islands.
- Australia: In Australian waters, they have been seen at places like Scott Reef and Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea.
- Habitat: These fish prefer to live in deeper waters, usually more than 20 meters (about 65 feet) deep. They like the outer slopes of coral reefs, where the reef drops off into the deeper ocean.
