Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Genus: Acanthuridae (Surgeon-/Unicorn- fishes), Acanthurinae
Scientific Name: Acanthurus xanthopterus
English Name: Yellowfin surgeonfish
Creole Name: Sirizyen Lezel Zonn
French Name: Chirurgien aile jaune
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 3; Dorsal rays: 25-27; Anal rays: 24-25.
Greyish to greenish brown dorsally, with small pale spots. Whitish ventrally with yellow spots that can coalesce to form a reticulum particularly posteriorly. 3 large
oval white spots along the back and a small one dorsally on caudal peduncle; a broad white streak often on side of body posterior to upper end of gill opening. White
blotches and mid-lateral stripe can disappear with growth. An oblique groove before the eye; large bony scales behind gill opening. Caudal peduncle depressed, slender
and tapering. Yellow bands on dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin, yellow with white bars and stripes pattern and diffuse black margin, double emarginate, lobes longer
with growth.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 60cm TL
Habitat and Ecology:
Reef associated. Inhabits mud and silt sand bottoms (depth 7-350m), usually 7-100m depth on sand, sponge, and weed bottoms. Feeds on benthic animals, including crabs,
molluscs and sea urchins. Juveniles in sheltered coastal bays and estuaries.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in both the fish trap and hand line fisheries and is, along with Sufflamen fraenatum,
the most commonly caught triggerfish in the artisanal fishery.
Notes:
Abalistes stellaris is a synonym for this species.
References:
Bray, D.J. (2018). Abalistes stellatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/759 (30/10/18).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase https://www.fishbase.de/summary/abalistes-stellatus (30/10/18)
Matsuura, K. (2015). Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014. Ichthyol Res (2015)
62:72–113 DOI 10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5
Matsuura, K. & Motomura, H. (2015). Abalistes stellatus. The IUCN Red List 2015: e.T193587A56996805. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/193587/56996805 (18/06/22). .
Matsuura K, Yoshino T (2004). A new triggerfish of the genus Abalistes (Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from the western Pacific. Rec Aust Mus 56:189-194
Smith, M & Heemstra, P Eds. (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. & Mason-Parker, C. (2019). Abalistes stellatus, Starry triggerfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/abalistes-stellatus-anonymous-1798/ (updated 18/06/22).
Description:
Dorsal spines: 8-9; Dorsal rays: 25-27; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 23-25.
Purplish-grey body often with alternating, irregular, lengthwise stripes of dark yellowish grey and light blue-grey. Dull yellow band in front of eye with narrower
extension running behind eye (sometimes continuing faintly posterior of operculum to pectoral fin base). Pectoral fin yellow contrasting against grey body. Dorsal
and anal fins dull yellow with pale blue band at base and dark longitudinal bands. Base of lunate caudal fin whitish with fin itself purplish. Small caudal spine
with light blue socket.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 70cm TL largest species in the genus. Common length 50cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Lives in various reef habitats, sandy substrates and lagoons (depth 1-90m) and usually in depths greater than 10m. Juveniles recruit to shallow, protected, turbid
inshore waters, while adults are found in deeper areas of protected bays, lagoons and outer reefs. This species feeds on sediment, algae and detritus. May occur
as individually or in schools.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery. May also be taken by hook on occasion.
Notes:
Venomous spine. Large catches were recorded off Mahe on September 12th 2018 (week of the new moon) suggesting aggregation behaviour.
References:
Abesamis, R. et al. (2012). Acanthurus xanthopterus. The IUCN Red List 2012: e.T177989A1512937. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T177989A1512937.en. (15/10/18).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Acanthurus-xanthopterus (15/10/18)
Randall, J.E. (2001). Surgeonfishes of Hawaii and the World. ISBN: 1-56647-561-9
Nevill, J.E.G. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Acanthurus xanthopterus, Yellowfin surgeonfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/acanthurus-xanthopterus-valenciennes-1835/ (edited 15/06/22).
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