Palette surgeonfish
Paracanthurus hepatus
Adult palette surgeonfish inhabit clear tropical coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific. They spend much of the day grazing algae from rocks and coral structures, helping limit algal growth on the reef. A pair of sharp, scalpel-like spines at the base of the tail can slash at close predators or rivals.
- Type
- Water / Venom
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- ?
- ?
- Palette surgeonfish