The Biology of Surgeon fishes (Family : Acanthuridae), with particular emphasis on Acanthurus nigricauda and A . xanthopterus from Northern Papua New Guinea Author(s):
Dalzell P. Year: 1989 Held at: IMR - Surgeon Fishes Identifiers: biology; Fishes Abstract: The age and growth, reproducttion, feeding and mortality of six species of surgeon fish from northern Papua New Guinea were studied between 1984 to 1986. Particular emphasis was given to the biology of Acanthurus xanthopterus and A nigricauda as these were the most common surgeon fish caught by the Antillean-style fish traps used for fish capture. Some investigations were also made of mesh selectivity of fish traps on surgeon fishes and the response of A. xanthopterus and A nigricauda catches with different soak times. The biogeography of surgeon fishes was reviewed and showed that the greatest number of species were found in the Pacific Ocean with the least in the Atlantic Ocean. A cline of decreasing surgeon fish species diversity to the east and west of the Philippine-Indonesian archipelagos was demonstrated. Evidence of a latitudinal cline of decreasing species diversity is also presented. Control No.: 00006224.nul
