About Acanthurus japonicus (Schmidt, 1931)
Acanthurus japonicus has a laterally compressed, oval-shaped body, with dorsal and anal fins that have long bases. The dorsal fin is supported by 9 spines and 28 to 31 soft rays, while the anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 26 to 29 soft rays. The body color of this fish changes with its emotional state, and can range from brown blended with blue to almost yellow. Its most distinct marking is a wide white band that stretches from the lower section of the eye socket to the upper lip. A pink band runs along the soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin. The caudal peduncle is black with a yellow base. The caudal fin has a straight, truncate edge, and the pectoral fins have yellow bases. The maximum published total length for this species is 21 centimeters (8.3 inches).
Acanthurus japonicus is native to the Western Pacific Ocean, where its range extends from southern Japan southward to Sulawesi, Indonesia. It forms small schools and lives at depths between 1 and 20 meters (3 feet 3 inches to 65 feet 7 inches), in clear water on lagoon and seaward reefs.
