Lined surgeonfish
Acanthurus lineatus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Lined surgeonfish
- Scientific
- Acanthurus lineatus
- Dhivehi
- ފަށުވި ލިބާސްFashuvi libaas
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 38 cm (total length); commonly 25 cm (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 38 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 15 m (usually 1 to 3 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2010
Description
A beautiful surgeonfish with alternating yellow and black-edged blue stripes along the upper body, a pale blue belly and a deeply lunate tail. It lives in the surge zone of exposed shallow reefs, where large males defend feeding territories and harems of females against other algae-grazers. The scalpel-like spine on the tail base is venomous and can cause a painful cut.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name fashuvi libaas (MRS 1997). MRS notes it is very common on shallow Maldivian reef flats and popular with divers and aquarists.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Acanthurus-lineatus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=1258&GenusName=Acanthurus&SpeciesName
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ފަށުވި_ލިބާސް
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Striped_surgeonfish_(Acanthurus_lineatus)_(46864395325).jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Fashuvi libaas' (Latin form). FishBase (country: Maldives) agrees: 'Fashuli libaas'. Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ފަށުވި ލިބާސް' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Haravalu-rykathi' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used.