General Information

COMMON NAMES: Achilles Tang, Redspot Surgeonfish, Redtail Surgeonfish; German Orangen-Doktorfish; French Chirurgien à Tache Rouge, Chirurgien à Queue Rouge, Chirurgien d'Achille TRADITIONAL NAMES: ‘Iku-toto (RR MT), Api Tuitui (MG), ‘Iku Toto (AT), ‘Ikutoto (MK), ‘Ikutoto / Tuitui (AK), Shukutoto (PL), Siku Toto (TS TW), Iku Toto (MH), Pulayikutoto (PK); Other Polynesian - Meha (TAH), Pakurakura (TUA), Paahua / Parai (MQA) GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE islands: Carolines - Ducie, Hawai‘i - Mexico; n. to s.Japan; s. to New Caledonia COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native; S.Group, common; N.Group, very common.; Marine, near-shore, lagoon, reef-flat and outer reef-slope to 15m SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Favoured during breeding season, esp. PN. KEY FEATURES: 24cm To 20cm SL.(RM91) { 24cmEL}

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea:
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
	P	^^P	^P		++?	++++

Northern Group: Present
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW
	P		P		++++

Acanthurus achilles Shaw, 1803
SYNONYMS: Hepatus achilles; Teuthis achilles

TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; CHORDATA; GNATHOSTOMATA (Jawed Vertebrates); PISCES; OSTEICHTHYES; Perciformes; Acanthuroidei; ACANTHURIDAE, Acanthurinae

Vouchers:
Atiu: field-specimen, College collection, 10/2000, ID GMcC. Mauke: fieldspecimen, College, 3/2001, ID GMcC. Aitutaki: fieldsight, lagoon, 12/2000, GMcC. Palmerston: Photo68 (G&S85); Listed (Preston95). Manihiki: A774-2specimens (B&M74). Pukapuka: informant reports at NBSAP meeting, 2/2004. Suwarrow: Photo68 (G&S85); field ID N.Sims (Sims EIA99).

References:
text p.244 Myers (1991 2nd Ed.) Fishes of Micronesia
plate 125a Myers (1991 2nd Ed.) Fishes of Micronesia
p.582 Burgess et al. (1988) Atlas of Marine Aquarium Fishes (TFH)
plate 124-14 Lieske & Myers (1996) Coral Reef Fishes

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD02

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