Sealife guideThe orangeband surgeonfishAcanthurus olivaceus

Last updated on 09/05/2024 at 09:40 PM

Taxonomy

Common name: Orangeband surgeonfish
French name: Poisson chirurgien olive à bande orange, chirurgien à épaulettes, chirurgien gendarme (Polynésie)
Scientific name: Acanthurus olivaceus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Family name: Acanthuridae
Order name: Acanthuriformes
Class name: Actinopterygii

Description

The orangeband surgeonfish, as its name suggests, has a dominant greenish-brown color with a distinctive large, horizontally elongated oval orange patch that starts behind its eye and ends in a blue-violet comet-shaped tail in the middle of its body.

The orangeband surgeonfish (Acanthurus olivaceus) © Rickard Zerpe sous licence Creative Commons

A thin light-colored border outlines its long dorsal and anal fins.

The orangeband surgeonfish is a modest-sized fish, reaching about 8 inches in length when fully grown.

Geographic range

The orangeband surgeonfish is found in the tropical waters of the central Pacific ocean and also in the Indian ocean around the coral reefs of Mauritius.

Diet

Like most surgeonfish, the orangeband surgeonfish is primarily herbivorous. It feeds on algae and detritus scraped from the surfaces of coral reefs and rocky bottoms using its beak-shaped mouth.

Did you know ?

As an herbivore, the orangeband surgeonfish helps maintain healthy coral reefs by controlling algae growth.

The orangeband surgeonfish is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The orangeband surgeonfish appears in the IUCN Red List since 2012 within the category Least Concern !

Within the same genus

Blue tang surgeonfish
(Acanthurus coeruleus)

Japanese surgeonfish
(Acanthurus japonicus)

Mimic surgeonfish
(Acanthurus pyroferus)

Ocean tang
(Acanthurus bahianus)

Powder blue tang
(Acanthurus leucosternon)

Sohal surgeonfish
(Acanthurus sohal)

Yellowfin surgeonfish
(Acanthurus xanthopterus)

Yellowmask surgeonfish
(Acanthurus mata)

Within the same family

Bluetail unicornfish
(Naso caeruleacauda)

Humpback unicornfish
(Naso brachycentron)

Indian sailfin surgeonfish
(Zebrasoma desjardinii)

Kole tang
(Ctenochaetus strigosus)

Orangespine unicornfish
(Naso lituratus)

Paletail unicornfish
(Naso brevirostris)

Palette surgeonfish
(Paracanthurus hepatus)

Sailfin tang
(Zebrasoma velifer)

Discover also

Banded shrimpgoby
(Cryptocentrus cinctus)

Black leopard wrasse
(Macropharyngodon negrosensis)

Blackfin barracuda
(Sphyraena qenie)

Dwarf hawkfish
(Cirrhitichthys falco)

Eyed flounder
(Bothus ocellatus)

Rosy razorfish
(Xyrichtys martinicensis)

Snubnose pompano
(Trachinotus blochii)

Wedgetail triggerfish
(Rhinecanthus rectangulus)

Our latestUpdates

Friday, November 28th 2025

Disney Hollywood Studios, from Star Wars to Toy Story

Dive into the magical world of Disney's Hollywood Studios: Star Wars and Toy Story attractions and shows for the whole family.

Wednesday, November 19th 2025

Tenerife island

Tenerife, the largest of the Canary islands, is a volcanic gem in the Atlantic ocean. It boasts an incredible variety of landscapes, from golden or black sand beaches to the subtropical forests of the Anaga mountains and the majestic Teide volcano, Spain's highest peak. With its picturesque villages, rich local culture and countless outdoor activities, Tenerife is a perfect destination for every type of traveler.

Saturday, November 15th 2025

Batz island

Located in the English Channel off the northern coast of Brittany, just a few kilometers from the town of Roscoff, Batz island is a true little haven of peace where you can enjoy its wild landscapes, unspoiled beaches and historical heritage.

Photo of the Day

Poisson perroquet à bosse
(Bolbometopon muricatum)