Acanthurus gahhm

Acanthurus gahhm in the Bay of Abu dabab, Red Sea, Egypt

The monk surgeonfish ( Acanthurus gahhm ), also called Gahhms Surgeonfish, is endemic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Features

The monk surgeonfish is blackish and is 40 to 50 cm long and has a longitudinally oval, laterally flattened body. A striking, vertical white ribbon marks the beginning of the caudal fin. Dorsal and anal fins are rounded. In the caudal fin, however, the ends are drawn so that they form a crescent. As for doctor fish also has the typical monk surgeonfish a terminal mouth.

  • Fins formula: Dorsal IX/24-28, Anal III/23-26.

Way of life

The monk - doctor fish lives in small or larger groups over sand and rubble bottom in lagoons and on outer reefs at depths of 5 to 40 meters. It feeds on algae, detritus and zooplankton.

Genus Species Fish fin FishBase
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