Family : Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) , subfamily: Acanthurinae
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Lined surgeonfish
Fish Name : Acanthurus lineatus
Max size : 38.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 3145)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 0 - 15 m
Climate : tropical; 24 - 30°C; 27°N - 34°S
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=4)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: East Africa, including the Mascarene Islands (Ref. 37792) to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. Replaced by the closely related Acanthurus sohal in the Red Sea.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-30; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 25-28. Upper 3/4 of body with alternating black-edged blue and yellow bands; lower 1/4 of body gray. Erectile spine on each side of caudal peduncle is sharp, strong, forward-pointing, and venomous. Upper part of head with yellow, oblique stripes. Pectoral fins pale with dusky rays; pelvic fins light yellowish brown with black outer margin; vertical markings in caudal fin. Gill rakers 14-16 anterior row, 13-15 posterior row. Minute scales. Philippine specimens demonstrate different color patterns.
Biology : A territorial species (Ref. 167) which is common in surge zones of exposed seaward reefs. The large male controls well-defined feeding territories and harems of females (Ref. 1602, 48637). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Adult usually forms schools and commonly found in shallow gutters. Juvenile solitary and secretive on shallow rubble habitats (Ref. 48637). The species is almost continually in motion. Herbivorous but also feeds on crustaceans (Ref. 5503). The venomous caudal spine can cause painful wounds. Forms spawning aggregations (Ref. 27825)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : venomous , Bagnis, R., P. Mazellier, J. Bennett and E. Christian. 1972
Coordinator : Randall, John E.
Main Ref : Randall, J.E.. 1986. (Ref. 3145)

India country information
Common Names : Blue linned surgeonfish, വരിപ്പാട്, വരിപട് , Combo, Haravalu-rykathi, Varipad
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses