Description:

Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 22-26; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 19-22.

Body is olivaceous grey to yellow grey dorsally shading to white ventrally with 6 narrow black bars, the first on the head passing through the eye, 4 on the body and 1, 
typically broken, on the caudal peduncle. Anal and pelvic fin may display basal black bar. 

Size:

Maturity: Lm 8.8 cm TL. Range unknown. Max Length: 27cm but rarely exceeds 20cm. 
 

Habitat and Ecology:

Adults occur in lagoon and seaward reefs with hard substrate (0-90m depth) young are abundant in tide pools. Adults are often observed in large feeding aggregations, 
it may also be seen as solitary or in small groups. It is a grazer that feeds on algal turfs. Forms spawning aggregations.

Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery.  
 

Notes:

 

 

 

References:

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Acanthurus-triostegus (14/10/18)
McIlwain, J. et al. (2012).  Acanthurus triostegus. The IUCN Red List of 2012: e.T177965A1504553. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T177965A1504553.en. (14/06/22).
Randall, J.E. (2001). Surgeonfishes of Hawaii and the World. ISBN: 1-56647-561-9

Citation:

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Acanthurus triostegus, Convict surgeonfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/acanthurus-triostegus-linnaeus-1758/ (edited 14/06/22).