Convict Surgeonfish
Acanthurus triostegus
Sighting evidence at Houshi Fringing Reef, Little Liuqiu Island
Convict surgeonfish move across the reef in large grazing aggregations, cropping algae from coral surfaces with broad sweeping passes. On an incoming current the schools can number in the hundreds, creating an impressive wall of striped bodies moving in synchronized formation over the reef crest. Their grazing keeps algae from overgrowing the coral surface and plays a critical role in maintaining the reef's structural integrity.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Convict Surgeonfish is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.