Prionurus laticlavius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prionurus laticlavius |
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The razor surgeonfish (Prionurus laticlavius), also known as the razor sawtail, is a type of fish that lives in the ocean. It belongs to a family of fish called Acanthuridae, which includes surgeonfishes, unicornfishes, and tangs. You can find this fish in the eastern central Pacific Ocean.
About the Name
The scientific name for this fish is Prionurus laticlavius. It was first officially described in 1846 by a French scientist named Achille Valenciennes. He gave it the name Naseus laticlavius back then.
The second part of its scientific name, laticlavius, has a cool meaning. It comes from two words: latus, which means "wide", and clavius, which means "bar". This name probably refers to the dark stripe that young razor surgeonfish have on their otherwise yellow bodies.
What Does It Look Like?
The razor surgeonfish has an oval-shaped body that is flattened from side to side. Its head has a steep slope, and its eyes are set high up. Its teeth are quite big, close together, and have jagged edges, like a saw.
This fish has two main fins on its back and belly. The fin on its back (dorsal fin) has 7 or 8 sharp spines and 27 to 29 soft rays. The fin on its belly (anal fin) has 3 spines and 23 soft rays.
A unique feature of surgeonfishes is the sharp, bony plates near their tail. The razor surgeonfish has three of these bony plates on each side of its tail base. These plates look a bit like a surgeon's scalpel, which is how the fish got its name!
The razor surgeonfish has small scales. Its body is mostly grey, but its tail fin is bright yellow. It also has a dark vertical stripe through its eye and another dark stripe at the back of its head. Young razor surgeonfish are mostly yellow. This fish can grow up to about 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) long, but most are around 25 centimeters (about 10 inches).
Where It Lives and What It Eats
You can find the razor surgeonfish in the eastern central Pacific Ocean. It lives along the western coasts of Central and South America, from Costa Rica down to Colombia. It also lives around islands like Cocos Island, Malpelo Island, and the Galápagos Islands.
This fish likes to live on reefs in shallow waters. It usually hangs out in small groups. Its main food source is algae, which it scrapes off rocks and other surfaces on the reef.
