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Ocean Surgeonfish

Ocean surgeon

Acanthurus bahianus

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Fun Facts

These fish may change colors as a form of communication and during spawning season.

Species Type:

Fishes

Common Name(s):

Ocean surgeon

Size:

On average, ocean surgeon grow to be 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) in length.

Diet:

These fish are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They feed on various algae and small invertebrates.

Range & Habitat:

Occurring in the Gulf of Mexico, eastern and western Atlantic, ocean surgeon inhabit shallow waters near rock and coral formations.

Details:

Ocean surgeon fish have oval-shaped bodies, yellow to a pale green-gray in color. Their fins are a dark blue with alternating bands of orange and green. Their mouthes are small and low on their heads, perfect for scraping algae off of rocks and coral.