Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D1, IX; D2, 26-28; A, III +24-26; P, 16-17; V, I + 5; GR 26+28  photo: D.Golani

SHORT DESCRIPTION Deep body (1.5 times in SL) and very compressed. Head profile very steep. Small mouth. Jaws not reaching back to the vertical of anterior of eye. Series of close-set teeth, each with 3-5 denticulate edges. Sharp horizontal lancet-like spine on each side of the caudal peduncle. Small ctenoid scales covering the entire body including the head and the basis of dorsal and anal fins. Continuous dorsal fin. Anal fin originating under the last dorsal spine. Caudal fin emarginated. First ray of pectoral and pelvic fins longest, the length of the rest of the rays decreasing gradually. color : Young specimens yellow with blue edge on dorsal, anal and caudal fins and blue ring around the eye. Adults turn yellowish-brown and in the terminal stage they are blue. size : 8-25 cm (max 39 cm) DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Acanthurus monroviae – An elliptical bright yellow area on the caudal peduncle. Young Zebrasoma flavescens – Yellow body without blue edge on dorsal, anal and caudal fins and blue ring around the eye. Other Mediterranean spp. - Lack of sharp horizontal lancet-like spine on each side of the caudal peduncle. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on benthic algae. Live solitary or in small groups. Eggs and larvae planktonic. habitat : Near coral reefs, usually in calm areas and lagoons of shallow water to 50 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Cyprus 2011, (observation) (Langeneck 2012) DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Western Atlantic Ocean from New York to Florida, Mexico and Brazil, and Ascension Island in the Mid-Atlantic. Mediterranean : Israel, Cyprus and Malta ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Rare. MODE OF INTRODUCTION Aquarium release or via Gibraltar. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS One of the most popular marine aquarium species.

KEY REFERENCES Golani, D., G. Askarov and B. Appelbaum-Golani 2015. First confirmed record of the Blue tang, Acanthurus coeruleus in the Mediterranean. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 45(3), 311-313. Evans, J., Tonna, R., Schembri, P.J. 2015. Portent or accident? Two new records of thermophilic fish from the central Mediterranean. BioInvasions Records 4(4), 299-304. Langeneck, J., Marcelli, M. and Simak, H.C. 2012. Unexpected alien species in Cyprus water: Acanthurus coeruleus (Actinopterygii: Acanthuridae). Marine Biodiversity Records 5, e116. Randall, J.E. 2002. Acanthuridae. Surgeonfishes. In: Carpenter, K.E. (ed.) The living resources of Western Central Atlantic. Vol. 3. Part 2.(Opistognathidae to Molidae), sea turtles and marine mammals. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes and The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special publication 5. FAO, Rome. 1801-1805 pp. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: January 2017 ©ciesm 2002