About Acanthurus xanthopterus Valenciennes, 1835
Acanthurus xanthopterus Valenciennes, 1835 can reach a maximum length of 70 cm (28 inches). This species has 8 or 9 dorsal spines, 25 to 27 soft dorsal rays, 3 anal spines, 23 to 25 soft anal rays, 16 to 24 anterior gill rakers, and 17 to 22 posterior gill rakers. Its body is colored purplish gray, with a patch of dull yellow located in front of the eye. The outer third of the pectoral fin is yellow, while the extreme farthest part of the fin is transparent (hyaline). The dorsal and anal fins are yellowish gray near the base and dull yellow toward the outer tip. The caudal fin is purplish, and the caudal spine is small. Acanthurus xanthopterus inhabits areas near coral reefs, at depths between 5 and 90 meters (16 to 295 feet). It prefers water temperatures of 24 to 28 °C (75 to 82 °F), and occurs across latitudes from 30°N to 30°S. Its geographic range extends from East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. In the Eastern Pacific, it is found from the lower Gulf of California and Clipperton Island to Panama and the Galapagos Islands. Juvenile A. xanthopterus live in shallow, protected, turbid inshore waters, while adults favor deeper areas of protected bays and lagoons.
