Purple surgeonfish

Purple surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus Valenciennes)
off Gardner Bay, Española (Hood) Island, Galapagos Islands
ECUADOR. South America
This species reach lengths of 61cm and are the largest surgeonfish in the Galapagos. Although they occur in lagoons they prefer seaward reefs where they are known at depths of 90meters. They aggregate into various-sized schools and graze on filamentous algae, on the filmy ooze of diatoms and detritus on sand. They are not common in Galapagos although sporadically regionally abundant in certain localities such as Darwin Bay, Tower and Plazas.

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Filename: IS467_Purple_surgeonfish.tif
Copyright: © Pete Oxford
Image Size: 5540x3610 / 57.3MB; Acanthurus xanthopterus Ecuador Española Island Fish Galapagos Hood Island Islands Purple Surgeonfish South America
Contained in galleries: Galapagos General

Purple surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus Valenciennes)<br />
off Gardner Bay, Española (Hood) Island, Galapagos Islands<br />
ECUADOR. South America<br />
This species reach lengths of 61cm and are the largest surgeonfish in the Galapagos. Although they occur in lagoons they prefer seaward reefs where they are known at depths of 90meters. They aggregate into various-sized schools and graze on filamentous algae, on the filmy ooze of diatoms and detritus on sand. They are not common in Galapagos although sporadically regionally abundant in certain localities such as Darwin Bay, Tower and Plazas.