Black surgeonfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black surgeonfish |
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The black surgeonfish (scientific name: Acanthurus gahhm) is a cool marine fish. It's also known as the monk surgeonfish or lined surgeonfish. This fish belongs to a group called surgeonfishes, unicornfishes, or tangs. You can find it swimming in the western Indian Ocean.
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About the Black Surgeonfish's Name
The black surgeonfish, Acanthurus gahhm, got its first official scientific description in 1789. A German scientist named Johann Friedrich Gmelin described it. Scientists think he found it in the Red Sea.
The name Acanthurus gahhm comes from an Arabic word. "Gahhm" is what people in the Red Sea called surgeonfish. A scientist named Peter Forsskål used this word in 1755. But it wasn't used as an official scientific name until Gmelin used it in 1789.
What Does the Black Surgeonfish Look Like?
This fish can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) long. It has an oval shape and is flat from side to side. Like other surgeonfishes, it uses its side fins (pectoral fins) to swim.
Its tail fin looks like a crescent moon. The fish has a small, pointy mouth. Its body is black to dark brown. It has a white ring around the base of its tail. There is also a yellow stripe around its eyes. The tips of its pectoral fins are yellow.
Where Does the Black Surgeonfish Live?
The black surgeonfish lives in the north-western Indian Ocean. It is found only in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. If you hear about it living farther east, it's probably a different fish. Those sightings are likely mistakes for a similar fish called Acanthurus nigricauda.
How Does the Black Surgeonfish Live?
This fish lives near the bottom of the ocean. You can find it on coral reefs, in lagoons, and in sandy areas. It usually lives in waters up to 40 meters (about 130 feet) deep.
The black surgeonfish eats many different things. It is an omnivore, which means it eats both plants and animals. It feeds on algae (seaweed), tiny sea creatures called zooplankton, and other small invertebrates. It also eats detritus, which is decaying matter. This fish is active during the day. It might swim alone or in groups.
Uses of the Black Surgeonfish
People sometimes keep this species in home aquariums. It is also caught and used as food.
