Surgeonfish, or tangs, are among the most common fish on Kwajalein reefs. Most graze algae from the reef or sand, but some are primarily plankton eaters. All are characterized by a spine or sharp blade (hence the common name surgeonfish) near the caudal peduncle, the narrow part of the body just in front of the tail. This can be used to spine or slice anyone who handles them carelessly, and in some cases the spine is apparently venomous. Species we have not photographed but which have been reported from the Marshall Islands are listed below the thumbnails with links to Fishbase. Unless otherwise noted, sizes given are maximum sizes for the species listed in Fishbase, not necessarily the size of the figured specimen.
Other surgeonfish species that have been reported from the Marshall Islands in Randall et al (2005) or listed in the checklist in Myers (1999) include (links are to Fishbase):
Acanthurus
maculiceps
(Ahl, 1923)
Ctenochaetus
marginatus
(Valenciennes, 1835)
Ctenochaetus
tominiensis
Randall, 1955
Naso
brachycentron
(Valenciennes, 1835)
Naso
lopezi Herre,
1927
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