Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D1, IV-V; D2, 23-26; A, III +19-22; P, 14-16; V, I + 5; GR 8-10  photo: J.E. Randall

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body very deep and compressed. Small head with a pointed snout. Small mouth with close-set of 12-14 denticulate teeth in juveniles and 18-22 in adults. Head profile convex. A continuous dorsal fin the spine increasing in size, 1st-5th rays are the longest and then decrease in size toward the caudal peduncle. Ana fin opposite the dorsal fin and originating slightly behind it. Caudal fin round to truncate. The upper pectoral rays are the longest. Pelvic fin below pectoral fin and slightly pointed. A lancet-like horizontal spine on each side of the caudal peduncle, folding to a shallow groove. color : Bright yellow size : 8-16 cm (max 20 cm) DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Young Acanthurus coeruleus - blue edge on dorsal, anal and caudal fins and blue ring around the eye. Snout only slightly pointed. Other Mediterranean spp. - Lack of sharp horizontal lancet-like spine on each side of the caudal peduncle. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on algae and seagrass. Eggs and larvae planktonic. habitat : Shallow waters in the vicinity of rocks and corals.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Spain, (observation) 2008 (Weitzmann et al., 2015). DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Indo-West Pacific from South Africa to Samoa. Not occurring in the Red Sea. Mediterranean : Spain (observation). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Rare MODE OF INTRODUCTION Aquarium release IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES 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. Weitzmann, B., Mercader, E. and Azzurro, E. 2015. First sighting of Zebrasoma flavescens (Teleostei: Acanthuridae) and Balistoides conspicilillium (Teleostei: Balistidae) in the Mediterranean Sea: Two likely aquarium releases. Mediterranean Marine Sciences. 16(1), 147-150. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

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