Doctorfish tang
Encyclopedia
Acanthurus chirurgus, commonly called the Doctor fish
and the Doctorfish tang in English or the Barbero rayado and the Cirujano rayado in Spanish, is a tropical marine
fish common in the Atlantic Ocean.
for the structures called "scalpel
s", which are found on either side of the caudal peduncle. The "scalpel" is used during fights with other Doctor fish and as a defense mechanism against predators. Its coloration generally varies from blue-gray to dark brown. Even with this variety of colors, 10 to 12 vertical bars are always present, no matter how faint. Also regardless of body color, the edges of the caudal, dorsal
, and anal fins are blue. There is also a faint blue ring that can be seen encircling the "scalpel" on either side.
tic variant of the Doctorfish tang. However, it is neither a subspecies
nor a regional mutation
. It has only been documented a limited number of times.
to Brazil – this includes the Gulf of Mexico
and the Caribbean. It can also be seen on the tropical west coast of Africa. Acanthurus chirurgus is the most widely ranged fish within its genus
of 38 species
spaning 3 oceans.
on algae
, or any organic detritus
. Its teeth are specially shaped for scraping algae and other plant matter from rocks. Because it swallows its food whole, it has a gizzard
-like organ
in the intestine
, filled with particles of sand, designed to grind food before entering it into the digestive process
.
occurs during evening hours in a group event. Each egg is less than one mm in diameter and contains a small amount of oil
for flotation. The translucent, plankton
-like larva
e hatch within 24 hours of fertilization. The larvae are laterally compressed and diamond-shaped with large eyes and pectoral fins. Other parts of the fish (scales
, dorsal, and anal fins) do not develop until the larvae have reached 2–6 mm in length. The "scalpel", however does not appear until about 13 mm in length is attained. While the "scalpel" grows, the anal and dorsal spines
that are common in Acanthurus chirurgus larvae shrink. Once the fish reaches around 25 mm in length, it moves to the bottom where it continues to grow, eventually reaching sexual maturity
in at least 9 months.
Doctor fish
Doctor fish is the name given to two species of fish: Garra rufa and Cyprinion macrostomus. Other nicknames include nibble fish, kangal fish, physio fish, and doctorfishen; in non-medical contexts, Garra rufa is called the reddish log sucker...
and the Doctorfish tang in English or the Barbero rayado and the Cirujano rayado in Spanish, is a tropical marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
fish common in the Atlantic Ocean.
Description
Reaching a maximum size of 39 cm and 5.1 kg, Acanthurus chirurgus gets its common nameCommon name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
for the structures called "scalpel
Scalpel
A scalpel, or lancet, is a small and extremely sharp bladed instrument used for surgery, anatomical dissection, and various arts and crafts . Scalpels may be single-use disposable or re-usable. Re-usable scalpels can have attached, resharpenable blades or, more commonly, non-attached, replaceable...
s", which are found on either side of the caudal peduncle. The "scalpel" is used during fights with other Doctor fish and as a defense mechanism against predators. Its coloration generally varies from blue-gray to dark brown. Even with this variety of colors, 10 to 12 vertical bars are always present, no matter how faint. Also regardless of body color, the edges of the caudal, dorsal
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
, and anal fins are blue. There is also a faint blue ring that can be seen encircling the "scalpel" on either side.
Black variety
There exists a black geneGene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
tic variant of the Doctorfish tang. However, it is neither a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
nor a regional mutation
Mutation
In molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...
. It has only been documented a limited number of times.
Range and habitiat
Typically found among rocky outcrops and coral reefs, Acanthurus chirurgus is found commonly in the Atlantic Ocean from MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to Brazil – this includes the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and the Caribbean. It can also be seen on the tropical west coast of Africa. Acanthurus chirurgus is the most widely ranged fish within its genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of 38 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
spaning 3 oceans.
Feeding
Acanthurus chirurgus spends most daylight hours grazingGrazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
on algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
, or any organic detritus
Detritus
Detritus is a biological term used to describe dead or waste organic material.Detritus may also refer to:* Detritus , a geological term used to describe the particles of rock produced by weathering...
. Its teeth are specially shaped for scraping algae and other plant matter from rocks. Because it swallows its food whole, it has a gizzard
Gizzard
The gizzard, also referred to as the ventriculus, gastric mill, and gigerium, is an organ found in the digestive tract of some animals, including birds, reptiles, earthworms and some fish. This specialized stomach constructed of thick, muscular walls is used for grinding up food; often rocks are...
-like organ
Organ (anatomy)
In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in structural unit to serve a common function. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues . The main tissue is the one that is unique for the specific organ. For example, main tissue in the heart is the myocardium, while sporadic are...
in the intestine
Intestine
In human anatomy, the intestine is the segment of the alimentary canal extending from the pyloric sphincter of the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine...
, filled with particles of sand, designed to grind food before entering it into the digestive process
Digestion
Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into smaller components that are more easily absorbed into a blood stream, for instance. Digestion is a form of catabolism: a breakdown of large food molecules to smaller ones....
.
Life history
Doctor fish spawningSpawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
occurs during evening hours in a group event. Each egg is less than one mm in diameter and contains a small amount of oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
for flotation. The translucent, plankton
Plankton
Plankton are any drifting organisms that inhabit the pelagic zone of oceans, seas, or bodies of fresh water. That is, plankton are defined by their ecological niche rather than phylogenetic or taxonomic classification...
-like larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e hatch within 24 hours of fertilization. The larvae are laterally compressed and diamond-shaped with large eyes and pectoral fins. Other parts of the fish (scales
Scale (zoology)
In most biological nomenclature, a scale is a small rigid plate that grows out of an animal's skin to provide protection. In lepidopteran species, scales are plates on the surface of the insect wing, and provide coloration...
, dorsal, and anal fins) do not develop until the larvae have reached 2–6 mm in length. The "scalpel", however does not appear until about 13 mm in length is attained. While the "scalpel" grows, the anal and dorsal spines
Spine (zoology)
A spine is a hard, thorny or needle-like structure which occurs on various animals. Animals such as porcupines and sea urchins grow spines as a self-defense mechanism. Spines are often formed of keratin...
that are common in Acanthurus chirurgus larvae shrink. Once the fish reaches around 25 mm in length, it moves to the bottom where it continues to grow, eventually reaching sexual maturity
Sexual maturity
Sexual maturity is the age or stage when an organism can reproduce. It is sometimes considered synonymous with adulthood, though the two are distinct...
in at least 9 months.