White Tailed Surgeonfish

White Tailed Surgeonfish

Also known as Chocolate Surgeon, Chocolate Surgeonfish, Doctorfishes, Lancetfishes, Night Surgeonfish, Thompson’s Surgeonfish, Thompson’s Tang, Thorntails, Thorntail Fish, White-tailed Surgeonfish.

Can change colour when disturbed.
Found singly or in small schools over coral and sand areas along steep drop-offs and steep outer reef slopes.
They feed on crustaceans, fish eggs and zooplankton.
Can change colour when disturbed.
Length – 27cm
Depth – 4-75m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

Surgeonfish have a blade like spine in the tail that points outwards when bent, unicorns have two hook-like plates along the tail, these are used for defence and are as sharp as a surgeons scalpel, hence the name “Surgeonfish”.
Some species are venomous