Family : Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) , subfamily: Acanthurinae
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Doubleband surgeonfish
Fish Name : Acanthurus tennentii
Max size : 31.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 3145)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 1 - 25 m
Climate : tropical; 24 - 28°C
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indian Ocean: East Africa to Sri Lanka and the Lesser Sunda Islands of southern Indonesia. The Red Sea record by Dor (1984, Ref. 2198) is an error.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-24; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 22-23. Brown in color, specimens up to 12 cm SL with black horseshoe mark on shoulder region breaking into 2 horizontal curved bands in larger specimens; caudal spine surrounded by a black area which is then surrounded by a bluish white area; caudal fin with a white posterior border (Ref. 3145).
Biology : Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs, 1 to over 20 m depth (Ref. 9710, 48637). Also found in slopes from silty inshore to outer reefs (Ref. 48637). Sometimes occurs in small shoals. Grazes on benthic algae (Ref. 30573)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : reports of ciguatera poisoning , Lewis, N.D.. 1986
Coordinator : Randall, John E.
Main Ref : Randall, J.E.. 1956. (Ref. 1920)

India country information
Common Names : പല, പാള, നെയ് ത്തള  , കറുതാ കൊട്ടി  , നെയ്തല, കറൂത്ത കൊറ്റി, Karutha-kotti, Neythala, Pala, Rykathi
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses