Sunday, June 1

Dangerous and Deadly Sea Creatures: Striped Surgeonfish

Dangerous and Deadly Sea Creatures: Striped Surgeonfish
The striped surgeonfish; also known as Acanthurus lineatus is an attractive Indo-Pacific reef fish that’s best handled with care because its caudal spine is venomous. Other common names include blue banded surgeonfish, blue-lined surgeonfish, clown surgeonfish, striped surgeonfish, and zebra surgeonfish. Scientists believe that the world’s seas hold some 1,200 different venomous fish species and estimate that they injure about 50,000 people per year. But fish venoms can also bring great benefit—they are useful in the development of new drugs.

The striped surgeonfish is territorial, with a large male defending a feeding territory and a harem of females. The adults may also school, and they gather en masse during spawning. The juvenile is solitary.

This species occurs in the western Pacific Ocean from East Africa to the Great Barrier Reef to Japan, and many Pacific Islands.

Quick stats and Classification of striped surgeonfish:
Species: lineatus
Genus: Acanthurus
Family: Acanthuridae
Class: Actinopterygii
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Phylum: Chordata
Kingdom: Animalia

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