Whitecheek Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans)

This fish is found around hard rocky areas of clear lagoons and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone to at least 200 feet and feeds on filamentous algae. It makes it’s home in the Eastern Indian Ocean around the Cocos-Keeling Islands and Christmas Island and in the Pacific Ocean from Ryukyu Islands and The Great Barrier Reef to the Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia. It can also be found in the Galapagos Islands, and the western coast of Mexico.

Surgeonfish are usually colorful, thin bodied, and 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.