Florent's Guide To The

Tropical Reefs

Doctorfish
Acanthurus chirurgus
Doctorfish
Category: Surgeonfishes
Scientific Name: Acanthurus chirurgus
Size: 6 to 12 in. (15 to 30 cm)  
Depth: 15-80 ft. (5-25 m)
Distribution: Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, Bermuda, Gulf of America, Brazil
Chordata (Phylum)
└Vertebrata (Subphylum)
 └Osteichthyes (Parvphylum)
  └Actinopterygii (Gigaclass)
   └Actinopteri (Superclass)
    └Teleostei (Class)
     └Acanthuriformes (Order)
      └Acanthuridae (Family)
       └Acanthurus (Genus)
        └A. chirurgus (Species)

Disk & Large Oval
Surgeonfishes

Doctorfish

Blue Tang

Blue Tang (Juvenile)

Eyestripe Surgeonfish

Pale-Lipped Surgeonfish

Whitebar Surgeonfish

Striped Surgeonfish

Elongate Surgeonfish

Whitecheek Surgeonfish

Blackstreak Surgeonfish

Brown Surgeonfish

Blue-Lined Surgeonfish

Dark Surgeonfish

Orangeband Surgeonfish

Mimic Surgeonfish

Mimic Surgeonfish (juvenile)

Convict Tang

Yellowfin Surgeonfish

Bluelipped Bristletooth

Hawaiian Bristletooth

Lined Bristletooth

Goldring Surgeonfish

Paletail Unicornfish

Paletail Unicornfish (Young Adult)

Sleek Unicornfish

Orangespine Unicornfish

Humpnose Unicornfish

Bluespine Unicornfish

Bignose Unicornfish

Palette Surgeonfish

Yellowtail Surgeonfish

Yellow Tang

Brushtail Tang

Brushtail Tang (Juvenile)

Pacific Sailfin Tang

Achilles Tang

Ocean Surgeonfish

Ringtail Surgeonfish



All Photographs
© 2025 Florent Charpin