Acanthuridae

230px|thumb| Paracanthurus hepatus, a poison fish.

Acanthuridae is the family of surgeonfish, tangs, and unicornfish. 

The family includes about 86 living species. It is made up of marine fish living in tropical seas, usually around coral reefs. Many of the species are brightly colored and popular for aquaria.

One of the characteristics of this family is that they have spines on the tail (also known as "thorn tail").

 Morphology 
Surgeonfish have dangerously sharp spines and can slash a person, causing serious injury. Most species of the family are of small size, between 15-40 cm  (6-15 in), but the genera Prionorus or Naso can be larger. The whitemargin unicornfish is the largest species in the family.

 Classification 

 Subfamily Nasinae Fowler & Bean, 1929
 Genus Naso Lacépède, 1801
 Subfamily Acanthurinae Bonaparte, 1835
 Tribe Acanthurini Bonaparte, 1839
 Genus Acanthurus Forsskål 1775
 Genus Ctenochaetus Gill, 1884
 Tribe Prionurini J. L. B. Smith, 1966
 Genus Prionurus Lacépède, 1804
 Tribe Zebrasomini Winterbottom, 1993
 Genus Paracanthurus Bleeker, 1863
 Genus Zebrasoma Swainson, 1839

 Extinct genera 
Acanthuridae includes several extinct genera:

 Eocene genera 

 Proacanthurus
 Tylerichthys
 Gazolaichthys
 Naseus
 Tauichthys
 Eorandallius
 Metacanthurus

 Oligocene genera 

 Glarithurus
 Caprovesposus
 Arambourgthurus
 Eonaso

 Miocene genera 

 Marosichthys

 In the aquarium 
Tangs are very sensitive to disease in the home aquarium. It is necessary to quarantine the fishes before introducing them to the aquarium.

 References 

 Other websites 

 Data related to Acanthuridae at Wikidata

Category:Acanthuriformes