Biafra doctorfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Biafra doctorfish |
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The Biafra doctorfish (scientific name: Prionurus biafraensis) is a cool type of ray-finned fish. It belongs to a group of fish called Acanthuridae, which includes surgeonfishes, unicornfishes, and tangs. You can find this fish swimming in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
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Meet the Biafra Doctorfish!
This fish was first officially described in 1962. Two French zoologists, Jacques Blache and Martial Rossignol, gave it the name Xesurus biafraensis. They found it near Pointe de Prayao, on São Tomé Island. This island is located in the Gulf of Guinea.
The name biafraensis means "of Biafra". This refers to the Bight of Biafra, which is a part of the Gulf of Guinea where the fish was first found.
What Does It Look Like?
The Biafra doctorfish has a body that is deep, long, and flat from side to side. Its deepest part is almost half its total length. The front of its head, called the snout, has a clear dip. This dip is between its upper jaw and the top of its eye.
From the head, its back curves steeply upwards. Then it gently curves down towards its tail. The belly side is not as curved.
Fins and Spines
The top fin, called the dorsal fin, has 8 strong spines and 25 soft rays. There's a small gap between the spiny and soft parts of this fin. The fin on its belly, called the anal fin, has 3 spines and 24 soft rays.
A cool feature of this fish is the three spines on each side of its tail. These spines are tucked into grooves. The head of the fish also has two light-colored stripes.
Size of the Doctorfish
The Biafra doctorfish can grow up to about 20 centimeters (almost 8 inches) long. However, it's more common to see them around 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) in length.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the Biafra doctorfish in the Gulf of Guinea. It lives around the island of Sao Tomé. It also swims along the African coast. This area stretches from Cap Lopez in Gabon to Pointe Noire in the Republic of Congo.
These fish prefer to live in water that is not too deep. They are usually found between 5 and 25 meters (about 16 to 82 foots) below the surface. They like to stay close to rocky shorelines. You will often see them swimming in small groups.
