ACANTHURIFORMES - Butterflyfishes, Angelfishes & Allies
Order: Acanthuriformes
Etymology
- Greek, akantha = thorn + oura = tail
General
- Members of the family Acanthuridae include surgeonfishes, tangs, and unicornfishes.
- These fishes are popular in home aquariums.
- 6 Genera, 84 species
Characteristics
- Many species have bright colours and are popular aquarium fishes.
- All have a laterally deep compressed body with the eye high on the head and a long preorbital bone.
- A small terminal mouth with a single row of specialized close-set teeth usually used for grazing on benthic algae.
- Single continuous unnotched dorsal fin with 4-9 spines and 19-31 rays; anal fin with 2 (only Naso) or 3 spines and 19-36 rays; pelvic fins with 1 spine and 3 (Naso and Paracanthurus) or 5 rays.
- Strong pectoral fins for maneuverability
- Very small ctenoid scales.
- Surgeon fishes have a distinctive sharp, scalpel-like caudal spine on each side of the caudal peduncle used for defense to slash other fishes by a rapid side sweep of the tail.
Divided into 13 Families (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2026))
Family: Acanthuridae Surgeonfishes, Tangs, Unicornfishes
Genus: Acanthurus Surgeonfishes
Acanthurus bariene _ Eyespot Surgeonfish Acanthurus dussumieri _ Eyestrips Surgeonfish Acanthurus mata _ Yellowmask Surgeonfish
Photo taken Tulamben Indonesia on 16102011 Photo taken Kubu Indonesia on 17092015 Photo taken Nusa Penida_Indonesia on 23102023
Acanthurus nigricauda _ Eyeline Surgeonfish Acanthurus nigrofuscus _ Dusky Surgeonfish Acanthurus nirgircans _ Whitecheek Surgeonfish
Photo taken Nusa Penida Indonesia on 22102023 Photo taken Nth Stradbroke Island QLD on 23102023 Photo taken Palau Micronesia on 08122023
Genus: Ctenochaetus Bristletooth Tangs
Ctenochaetus binotatus _ Twospot Bristletooth Ctenochaetus striatus _ Lined Bristletooth
Photo taken Nusa Penida Indonesia on 23102023 Photo taken Tulamben Indonesia on 16102011
Genus: Naso Unicornfishes
Naso annulatus _ Whitemargin Unicornfish Naso brevirostris _ Paletail Unicornfish Naso lituratus _ Pacific Orange-spine Unicornfish
Photo taken Yongala Wreck QLD on 27122005 Photo taken Palau Micronesia on 08122023 Photo taken Nusa Penida Indonesia on 22102023
Family: Antigoniidae Deep Sea Boarfishes
Family: Caproidae Boarfishes
Family: Chaetodontidae Butterflyfishes
Family: Drepaneidae Sicklefishes
Family: Ephippidae Spadefishes
Family: Leiognathidae Ponyfishes
Family: Lobotidae Tripletails
Family: Luvaridae Louvars
Family: Pomacanthidae Angelfishes
Genus: Apolemichthys
Apolemichthys trimaculatus _ Threespot Angelfish
Photo taken Puerto Galera Philippines on 26092019
Genus: Centropyge
Centropyge bicolor _ Bicolor Angelfish
Photo taken North Stradbroke Island QLD on 17022024
Genus: Genicanthus
Genicanthus lamarck _ Lamarcks Angelfish
Photo taken Puerto Galera Philippines on 10102022
Genus: Holacanthus
Holacanthus passer _ King Angelfish
Photo taken Isla de Plata Ecuador on 06072023
Genus: Pomacanthus
Pomacanthus semicirculatus _ Semicircle Angelfish Pomacanthus semicirculatus juvenile_ Semicircle Angelfish
Photo taken Bundaberg QLD on 13102007 Photo taken Bundaberg QLD on 13102007
Pomacanthus sexstriatus _ Sixband Angelfish Pomacanthus zonipectus _ Cortez Angelfish
Photo taken Lynx Reef QLD on 24102013 Photo taken Isla de Plata Ecuador on 06072023
Genus: Pygoplites
Pygoplites diacanthus _ Regal Angelfish
Photo taken Kubu Indonesia on 16102011
Family: Scatophagidae Scats
Family: Siganidae Rabbitfishes
Genus: Siganus
Siganus fuscescens _ Black Rabbitfish Siganus guttatus _ Golden Rabbitfish Siganus puellus _ Masked Rabbitfish
Photo taken Chiba Japan on 28102025 Photo taken Amed Indonesia on 16102011 Photo taken Palau Micronesia on 08122023
Family: Zanclidae Moorish Idols
Genus: Zanclus
Zanclus cornutus_ Moorish Idol
Photo taken Kubu Tulamben on 17092015
References
- Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2026). FishBase. Acanthuriformes. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1517548 on 2026-02-18
