Description:

Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 27-30; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 23-26.

Deep-bodied surgeonfish. Caudal spine small and caudal slightly emarginate.

Colour. Base colour grey-brown with a white bar from nape across the operculum and another on anterior body (sometimes a third in middle of body). Numerous white spots 
on posterior half of body, anal fin, and adjacent part of dorsal fin. Pelvic fins bright yellow. Base of caudal fin with a broad whitish to yellow zone.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 28cm TL.

Inhabits the surge zone in exposed reefs or rocky shores (depth 0-8m).

Usually in small schools. Non-territorial. Browses mainly on filamentous algae, but also ingests some calcareous species. Forms spawning aggregations.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It does not appear to be subject to the artisanal fishery presumably because its preferred habitat 
is unsuitable for the placement of traps.

Abesamis, R. et al. (2012). Acanthurus guttatus. The IUCN Red List 2012: e.T177995A1515633. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T177995A1515633.en. (28/03/20).

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2020). FishBase. Acanthurus guttatus https://www.fishbase.se/summary/4736 (28/03/20).

Randall, J.E. (2001). Surgeonfishes of Hawaii and the World. ISBN: 1-56647-561-9

Nevill, J.E.G. (2020). Acanthurus guttatus, Whitespotted surgeonfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/acanthurus-guttatus-forster-1801/  (Edited 11/06/22).