Convict surgeonfish
Acanthurus triostegus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Convict surgeonfish
- Scientific
- Acanthurus triostegus
- Dhivehi
- ރާބުޅާRaabulhaa
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 27 cm (total length); commonly 17 cm (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 27 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 90 m (usually 0 to 90 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2010
Description
A pale greenish-grey surgeonfish with six narrow black bars, one through the eye and one on the tail base, shading to white below. It often grazes filamentous algae in large roving schools that overwhelm the territories of other algae-eating fish. Young are common in tide pools.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name raabulhaa (MRS 1997). Very common in the Maldives, especially on reef flats and in lagoons.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Acanthurus-triostegus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=1260&GenusName=Acanthurus&SpeciesName
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ރާބުޅާ
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Convict_Surgeonfish,_Acanthurus_triostegus.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Raabulhaa' (Latin form). FishBase (country: Maldives) agrees: 'Raabulhaa'. Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ރާބުޅާ' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Rabolu' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used.