Description
Acanthurus pyroferus, also known as the chocolate surgeonfish or mimic surgeonfish, is a species of surgeonfish. Adults are typically dark brown or purplish-black with a yellowish tan anterior. They have a distinct orange patch at the gill opening and a prominent yellow band on the posterior margin of their caudal fin. Juveniles exhibit different color patterns that mimic other fish species like lemonpeel angelfish.
Key features of Acanthurus pyroferus:
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Size: They can grow up to 29 cm (11 inches) in length.
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Coloration: Adults are usually dark brown to purplish-black, sometimes with a yellowish tan anterior. They have an orange patch at the gill opening and a yellow band on their tail.
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Fins: The dorsal fin has 8 spines and 27-30 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 24-28 soft rays. The tail fin edge is lunate in adults and round in juveniles.
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Tail Spine: A single, depressible spine on the side of the tail base, which is part of their defense mechanism.
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Diet: They are herbivores and primarily graze on algae.
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Habitat: Found in reef environments, including the Indo-Pacific region, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean
