. Dangerous marine animals. Marine animals. MARINE ANIMALS THAT STING 87 SURGEONFISHES Surgeonfishes are members of the family, Acanthuridae, and are reef-dwellers of warm seas. The principal genus of this family, Acanthurus, is characterized by the presence of a sharp, lance-like, movable spine on the side, at the base of the tail fin (Fig. 52). When the fish becomes excited, the spine, the point of which is directed forward, can be extended at right angles from the body of the fish. With a quick, lashing movement of the tail and the extended spine, large surgeonfishes are likely to inflict a
. Dangerous marine animals. Marine animals. MARINE ANIMALS THAT STING 87 SURGEONFISHES Surgeonfishes are members of the family, Acanthuridae, and are reef-dwellers of warm seas. The principal genus of this family, Acanthurus, is characterized by the presence of a sharp, lance-like, movable spine on the side, at the base of the tail fin (Fig. 52). When the fish becomes excited, the spine, the point of which is directed forward, can be extended at right angles from the body of the fish. With a quick, lashing movement of the tail and the extended spine, large surgeonfishes are likely to inflict a deep and painful Fig. 54. Dragonet, Callionymus lyra Linnaeus. Male, lower left; female, upper right. (From Poll) Note the preopercular spines which are believed to be venomous. Under normal circumstances, the spine remains adducted within a deep recess partially surrounded by an integumentary sheath. As to whether or not surgeonfishes' spines are venomous, this has not as yet been determined. Species of Surgeonfishes: Yellow-Finned Surgeonfish, Acanthurus xanthopterus Cuvier and Valenciennes (Fig. 53, Top). Indo-Pacific area. Bleeker's Surgeonfish, Acanthurus bleekeri Giinther (Fig. 53, Center). Found throughout the Indo-Pacific area, with the excep- tion of Hawaii. Surgeonfish, Naso lituratus (Bloch and Schneider) (Fig. 53, Bottom). Ranges from Polynesia to east Africa and the Red Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Halstead, Bruce W. Cambridge, Md. , Cornell Maritime Press
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookcollectionbiodive, booksubjectmarineanimals
