Vardhan Patankar
( Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus )
Inhabit outer areas of reefs where there is rich coral growth at depths between 7-15 m .
As juveniles, they are bright yellow in colour. However as they age, they develop an orang to brown colour with a bluish coloured chest. They also exhibit bluish lines on the sides of their body with small yellow spots on the head with a yellow outline around the eye. Their name though, comes from their blue coloured lips.
You can find them individually or in small groups feeding on algae.
Vardhan Patankar
( Zebrasoma scopas )
Found at depths between 1-60 m in coral rich areas of lagoons and seaward reefs.
Usually found in groups of about 20 individuals, the brown tang are a fish than grow up to about 40 cm long and have a protruding snout. The head is exhibits a whitish colour while the body is brown, this brown shade gets darker moving towards the tail. They also have faint greenish-white dots on the head that convert into vertical lines in the middle of the body. As they grow older, the patterns of their lines might change and their body becomes more stretched as opposed to a more triangular shape body when they are young as seen in the image here.
They mainy consume algae and have special teeth that assist them with this.
( Acanthurus triostegus )
Found as deep as 90m they are found all around coral reefs from lagoons to reef slopes and even close to mangroves.
The convict surgeonfish gets is name from the 6 bold black stripes on its completely yellow-white body with the first stripe passing through the eye, in reference to the bars of a prison cell. These species can reach up to a maximum length of about 27 cm, they have a small head and a pointed snout as well. Like all other surgeonfish, have spines near their tail that they use to defend themselves from other predators or even amongst themselves. It is due to this spine and its resemblance to a surgeon's scalpel that they are named so.
They consume algae growing on rocks in small groups.
Phalguni Ranjan
( Acanthurus lineatus )
Inhabit coral reefs most commonly spotted around exposed seaward reefs between 1-15 m.
Reaching about a maximum lengh of about 38 cm, the lined surgeonfish has a body which is covered with blue and yellow stripes that are edged with black. They like the other most other surgeonfish have a sharp spine pointing forward near their tail, this is used in defense and is venomous. This species has been recorded to be very territorial.
Most of their diet is made up of algae. However, they might consume small crustaceans at times.
Vardhan Patankar
( Paracanthurus hepatus )
Spotted around coral reefs, especially in areas with strong currents in seaward facing reefs at depths between 10-40 m.
With an oval shaped head, a royal blue coloured body with a yellow tail and black design on the body the palette surgeonfish stands out prominently. They can grow up to a maximum length of about 30cm. Like other surgeonfish, the palette surgeofish has spines near their tail that they use for protection and defense. Their beauty and colour have made them a famous fish after their portrayal in the movie Finding Nemo and Finding Dory.
This species mainly consumes algae growing on rocks and also on plankton.
Vardhan Patankar
( Acanthurus leucosternon )
Recorded in shallow tropical waters around coral reefs, mostly near the seaward side of the reef and on slopes at depths between 0-25 m.
The powderblue tang can growup to a maximum length of about 23 cm. The sides of their body are blue, the fins on the top of their body are yellow while the fins on the bottom are white. The base of their tail is also yellow and they have a black coloured head. Like the other surgeonfish, they have a 'surgeon's scalpel' or spine near the base of their tail which they use in defense or protection from predators. These species have a small and pointed like a beak so as to provide them with the ability to reach narrow places for food.
They feed on algae by using their specialized mouth the pick it off from small crevices and holes.
Vardhan Patankar
( Acanthurus xanthopterus )
Inhabits coral reefs at depths between 5-90 m. You are likely to find them in schools over lagoons, outer reefs and deep protected bays.
The yellowfin surgeonfish can grow up to about 70 cm, they have a purplish grey body with a yellowish colour right in front of its eye. Their fins on the top of the body and the fins at the bottom of the body are yellowish grey, hence giving them their name. Their tail is purple and their surgeon scalpel or spine is quite small.
Recorded to have a variable diet, feeding on algae, fish and sometimes on dead animal matter.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Naso vlamingii )
Found at depths between 1-50 m on deep lagoons and seaward areas of coral reefs.
Oweing to their prominent bump on the snout, these fish are called the Bignose Surgeonfish, tangs, and unicornfish, tangs, and unicornfish. These fish are bluish to grey in colour with blue spots on the upper half of the body which convert to blue lines on the bottom half. Moreover, they also have a blue line that initiates from the eye to the bump on their snout. They are known to form small schools or groups and can grow up to a maximum length of 60 cm.
Planktonic organisms make the majority of their diet.
Phalguni Ranjan
( Naso unicornis )
Usually spotted at depths from the surface to about 12 m in areas near the shore in and around coral reefs.
The bluespine unicornfish has a blue-grey coloured body with two blue coloured spines on each side of where the tail meets the rest of the body. They also display a bony horn on the forehead which is a common characterstic of most unicorn fish and hence where their name comes from. These species can grow up to a maximuim length of about 68 cm.
These species are herbivorous and only deed on algae or sea grass.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Naso hexacanthus )
They are found in lagoons and seaward reef and slopes, they can be spotted from 10-137 m.
The sleek unicornfish does not have a horn like most of the other unicorn fish and can grow up to a maximum length of about 75 cm. They also have a black coloured tongue, and hence are sometimes referred to as the black tongued unicornfish. Their colour ranges from dark brown to yellowish and you might also find individuals that exhibit a blue or silver colour too. They are a species that loves to move in groups so you are likely to spot them in large schools.
They are known to feed on planktonic organisms such as crab larvae but algae and tunicates also form a significant part of their diet.
Phalguni Ranjan
( Naso brevirostris )
Found at a depth of 4-46 m, these species are likely to be spotted along lagoons and seaward reef areas. You are also able to spot these species along rocky areas of coral reefs.
The short-nosed unicornfish can reach a maximum length of about 60 cm. With their oval shaped, short snout and a mouth that can be protruded, they share these charactersitics with most unicronfish. Their colouration can appear as brown to bluish grey. The front part of the body is a lighter colour than the back, while the tail is white and has a black patch. They also have the clearly visible horn that is common amongst unicorn fish with a body that has small dark spots on the head with irregular lines on the rest of the body that vary in size.
They feed on algae and planktonic organisms.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Acanthurus mata )
Found on slopes of of coral reefs at depths between 5- 45 m.
The elongate surgeofish can reach a maximum length of about 50 cm. The body has numerous horizontal blue coloured lines with a grey-blue background colour. They also have a yellow stripe that runs across the eye and splits into two lines, they display yellow coloured lips as well. Like the other surgeonfish, these species have a spine that is use for defense.
They feed on planktonic organisms.