Yellowtail Surgeonfish
By Michael Leibrock
September 15, 2005
Las Vegas --
Yellowtail Surgeonfish (Prionurus punctatus)
This fish makes its home in the Gulf of California to El Salvador, including the Revillagigedo Islands.
It likes to school near shallow reefs and feeds on algae in rocky areas. This fish does well in aquariums and is a common fish in most large Indo-Pacific collections.
Surgeonfish are usually colorful, thin bodied, and usually have an oval shape. These fish have long continuous dorsal and anal fins and crescent tailfins. The scalpel at the base of their tailfin is very sharp and is used by the fish for protection from predators as well as a way of establishing itself with other fish. These fish are usually seen along reefs grazing on algae throughout the day.
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