divepix - Doctorfish

Doctorfish

Aspect:	More commonly blue with darker vertical body bars, but when displays brown tones, with darker brown vertical bars, always has blue-tone anal fin (often white edged), and vertical darker bars. Tail “surgery” blades also remain dark blue. Sunshine-like “make-up” around eyes.
Population:	Regularly abundant.
Notable feature:	Defends itself by swift tail movements to cut aggressor with its tail blades (always blue contrary to Blue Tang), reputed to be able to cut through a 5mm suit.
Environment:	Usually found in shallow, quiet waters, (but also abundant on well-covered wrecks down to 40 metres) hovering over rocks or coral boulders in search of algae. Solitary or in schools mixing with other surgeonfishes.
Behaviour:	Will usually swim away when approached closer than two metres.

More in this category: « Blue Tang Ocean Surgeonfish »