An important group associated with coral reefs, surgeonfishes are named for the sharp, sometimes venomous blade-like caudal spines ahead of the tail. These spines may be used in defense and are harmless to swimmers unless the fish is handled.  Family characteristics include the disc-shaped body, small mouth, caudal spines, and swimming with pectoral fins. Some unicornfishes in the genus Naso develop a large horn on the forehead which does not appear to serve an obvious function. Many species are herbivorous, feeding on algae in groups for security, or carnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates on the bottom or high in the water column. The group has a long-lived larval stage thus only one species, the Goldring Surgeonfish, is endemic to Hawai‘i.

CONVICT TANG

BROWN SURGEONFISH

BLUELINED SURGEONFISH

BLUELINED SURGEONFISH

THOMPSON'S SURGEONFISH

RINGTAIL SURGEONFISH

YELLOWFIN SURGEONFISH

WHITESPINE SURGEONFISH

CHEVRON TANG, Juvenile

CHEVRON TANG

Ctenochaetus strigosus

GOLDRING SURGEONFISH, Juvenile

Ctenochaetus strigosus

GOLDRING SURGEONFISH

ORANGEBAR SURGEONFISH, Juvenile

ORANGEBAR SURGEONFISH

YELLOW TANG

SAILFIN TANG

WHITESPOTTED SURGEONFISH

WHITEBAR SURGEONFISH

ACHILLES TANG

WHITECHEEK SURGEONFISH

HYBRID ACHILLES x WHITECHEEK SURGEONFISH

ORANGESPINE UNICORNFISH

BLUESPINE UNICORNFISH

PALETAIL UNICORNFISH

WHITEMARGIN UNICORNFISH

SLEEK UNICORNFISH

SPOTTED UNICORNFISH

GRAY UNICORNFISH

BRUSHTAIL TANG

PALETTE SURGEONFISH

STRIPED BRISTLETOOTH

BLUELIP BRISTLETOOTH

MIMIC SURGEONFISH, Juvenile

MIMIC SURGEONFISH, Adult

LINED SURGEONFISH

THOMPSON'S SURGEONFISH

ORANGETIPPED BRISTLETOOTH

JAPANESE SURGEONFISH

SCALPEL SAWTAIL     Nizadai

YELLOWTAIL SURGEONFISH

CONVICT TANG

BLUE TANG

OCEAN SURGEONFISH