Acanthuridae:
Surgeons & Tangs of Hawaii
By: Sara, James, and Kelsee
Characteristics



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Sharp, blade-like caudal “scalpel” ahead of tail
Many colors (Bright and dull)
Wide, oval shaped body
Specialized movement of fins
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/AnimalDetails.aspx?enc=wlXqL0lOsSyH8jH2Mckr9g==
 Convict Tang:
 Acanthurus
triostegus
 Hawaiian Name:
Manini
Identification:
 Light grey color with
white-ish underneath
 6 vertical lines
 Up to 8 inches
http://www.hawaiisfishes.com/books/hanauma_bay_guide/acanthurus_triostegus.htm
Bluespine
Unicornfish:
Naso unicornis
Kala
http://www.ozanimals.com/Fish/Bluespine-Unicornfish/Naso/unicornis.html
http://www.hayrettindagci.com/ansiklopedi/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_8
Orangeband
Surgeonfish:
Acanthurus olivaceus
Na‘ena‘e
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barryfackler/4500256015/
http://directoryofkauai.net/blog/hawaiian-reef-fish-and-orangebandsurgeonfish
Brown
Surgeonfish:
Acanthurus nigrofuscus
Ma'i'i'i
http://www.hawaiisfishes.com/fish_of_month/past_fom/fom_05_03.htm
White Bar
Surgeonfish:
Acanthurus
leucopareius
Maikoiko
http://saltwater.tropicalfishandaquariums.com/Tangs/Acanthurus-leucopareius.asp
http://week.divebums.com/2008/Jul28-2008/index.html
Goldring
Surgeonfish:
Ctenochaetus
strigosus
Kole
http://www.ryanphotographic.com/acanthuridae.htm
http://www.coldwaterimages.com/green_sea_turtle.html
Orangespine
Unicornfish:
Naso lituratus
Umaumalei
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/basch/uhnpscesu/htms/kalafish/fish_pops/acanthur/tang12.htm
http://orange-spine-unicornfish.wikispaces.com/
Movement
 Constantly use pectoral fins to swim.
 Steering is allowed by the using the pectoral fin.
 While swimming the blades on its body lie in grooves
Habitats
 In the recruit stage, yellow tangs dwell in mid-depth
high coral habitats.
 As adults, yellow tangs live in shallow pavement
zones during the day.
 Primarily diurnal species.
Feeding Habits
 Tangs and Surgeonfish are known for being primarily
algae feeders.
 They also feed on shrimp and mussels.
 Can feed on coral.
Schooling Behavior
 Usually schooling
 Rarely solitary
http://www.cherba.com/ages/images/tang.jpg
http://www.explorebiodiversity.com/Hawaii/BiodiversityForgotte
n/Wildlife/Fish/Pics/Acanthuridae-Yellow-Tang-2-.jpg
Mating Behavior
 Pelagic spawners
 Promiscuous (Jonna 2003)
http://www.unepscs.org/images/Fish_La
rvae/Acanthuridae.jpg
 Sequential hermaphroditism
http://www.fisheggsandlarvae.com/LIIIE7%20A
canthuridae_files/image001.jpg
Sexual Dimorphism
 Very few differences
 Size difference
 Coloration
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h181/flyyyguy/Fish/tangs15.jpg
Defense-Physical
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/collections/contributors/Grzime
k_fish/Acanthuroidei/v04_id208_con_scalpel/medium.jpg
 Scalpels
 Located at base of tail
 Often emphasized by color
 Coloration
http://glendalecommunitycollege.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/17prionurus-kdp-811.jpg
Defense-Behavioral
 Intraspecific competition
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Defending territories
Marked by color change
Circling behavior
Use of scalpels
http://www.oceans5dive.com/blog/wpcontent/uploads/2013/03/unicornfish.jpg
Observing Marine Protected Areas
Effects on the Yellow Tang,
Zebrasoma flavescens.
 Took place on the west side of Hawaii
 Based on the lifestyle of the yellow tang it is suitable
that they were used in the experiment
 The age of a tang can easily be identified based on size
 Tangs are desirable for aquariums
http://fantasticaquariums.com/content/yellow-tang
Location
 Black regions are long term
protected areas
 Faded regions are fisheries
replenishment areas.
L Long term protected area
O Open to fishing
F Fisheries replenishment area
B Boundary Site
(Williams et al. 2009)
Methods
 Populations observed 4-6 times per year
 Monitoring stations in medium-depth reefs
 Sizes were defined as
 3-5cm recruits
 5-6cm juvenile
 For adult fish the monitoring station was placed in the
shallow pavement
(Williams et al. 2009)
Methods cont.
 Biomass of the fish was obtained through monthly
catch information.
 Yellow tang density was then determined for each
region.
 T-test was used.
(Williams et al. 2009)
Results
 From 1976-1985, reported catches were 10,000. This
increased to 200,000 in a decade!
 This is just for the yellow tang!
 At FRAs densities of yellow tang had increased up
to 72%.
 Areas open to fishing have declined in density up to
45%.
(Williams et al. 2009)
Discussion
 MPAs are clearly effective.
 Yellow tangs have been primarily targeted as
juveniles and recruits.
 Spillover from the MPAs is clearly present.
 The yellow tang can live for 40 years so this study
covered a max of ¼ of their lives.
Rapid evolutionary divergences in reef
fishes of the family Acanthuridae
(Perciformes: Teleostei).
 Purpose
 Materials and Methods
 Collection
 PCR
 Analysis
Effect of the surgeonfish Ctenochaetus straitus on
the processes of sediment transport and
deposition on a coral reef
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Pix%20Of%20The%20Day%20Marine/POTD%20SW%20
Arch%2036-40/swpotdarch38.htm
http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2004/11/
Literature Cited
 Clements, K.D., R. D. Gray, and J. H. Choat. 2003. Rapid evolutionary divergences in
reef fishes of the family Acanthuridae (Perciformes: Teleostei). Molecular
Phylogenetics and Evolution 26 (2): 190-201. Available:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790302003251
 Jonna, R. 2003. "Acanthuridae“. Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 28, 2013.
Available: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Acanthuridae/
 Krone, R., Paster, M., and Schuhmacher, H. 2010. Effect of the suegeonfish
Ctenochaetus straitus (Acanthuridae) on the processes of sediment transport and
deposition on a coral reef in the Red Sea. Functional Ecology 57: 215-221.
 Williams I.D., W.J. Walsh, J.T. Claisse, B.N. Tissot, K.A. Stamoulis. Impacts of a Hawaiian
marine protected area network on the abundance and fishery sustainability of the
yellow tang, Zebrasoma flavescens. Biological Conservation 142: 1066-1073. Available:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320709000536
 "What Are Surgeonfish." Essortment. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.