Chocolate Surgeonfish

Acanthurus pyroferus is a species of fish in the family Acanthuridae, the unicornfishes and tangs.

Description

Body is purplish black in color with an orange diffused patch at edge of gill opening, just above pectoral fin base. It has a broad black band from upper end of gill opening to margin of gill cover down to isthmus. Caudal spine socket has a narrow black margin. It has blackish lips, a trace of orange behind eye and a white line under chin extending slightly above rictus. Juveniles can exhibit 3 different color patterns mimicking Centropyge species. Caudal fin rounded in juveniles.

Distribution

This fish can be found in the Indo-Pacific, excluding Hawaii. It lives primarily around steep, shallow slopes near the coast with clear sand and corals. It reaches 25 centimeters in length.

Habitat

It occurs in lagoon and seaward reefs and prefers areas of mixed coral, rock, or sand at the base of reefs or ledges. Also on silty reefs. Found singly. Feeds on algae.

Presence of a venom gland could not be determined despite the presence of distinct anterolateral grooves. This may be due to the loss of venom glands in adults.

Juveniles mimic Centropyge spp. (in Guam, juveniles mimic C. flavissimus but in Palau where this species is absent, they mimic C. vrolikii).

This fish is occasionally kept in aquaria.