Striated surgeonfish

Biology

Like other surgeonfishes, the striated surgeonfish has scalpel-like spines, one or more on either side of the tail, which are dangerously sharp and used for defence or attack. It inhabits rocky areas or coral reefs, up to 30 metres in depth. May occur singly or in large groups, often mixed-species. During breeding season, they form schools of several thousand fishes.

Curiosities

The striated surgeonfish is one of the few herbivorous fishes which are occasionally toxic, through ciguatera poisoning, caused by the accumulation of a toxin produced by microscopic dinoflagellates which it ingests while feeding on algae.