Acanthura

Acanthura is a genus of marine fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae. This family consists of surgeonfish, which are also known as tangs, and goatfish. Acanthura is a small genus within this family, comprising two species of heart-urchins.

The Acanthura genus is characterized by its elongated body shape and long snout, which is similar to a hermaphroditic fish of a different family. The surgeonfish features are also present in this genus, including the pointed tail fin with a lower lobe that is serrated. However, this genus lacks the characteristic flat and broad tail fin typical of the Acanthuridae family.

Two species have been identified within the Acanthura genus: Acanthura affinis and Acanthura randalli. It is worth noting that the taxonomy of this genus is still under debate and further research is required to resolve the classification.

Acanthura are deep-sea dwellers typically found in tropical waters between 50 - 1,000 meters in depth. Their distribution ranges across different parts of the Indian and Pacific oceans. These fish are relatively small, with a typical length of around 4 - 5 centimeters.

Little is known about the ecology of Acanthura, but it is presumed that their feeding habits resemble those of other surgeonfish species. Like other surgeonfish, they are likely to feed on algae and small invertebrates. The limited knowledge about the behavior, habitat, and life cycle of Acanthura is due to the deep-sea habitat and their rare occurrence in the depths. Further research in the field is necessary to fully comprehend the characteristics of this genus and their position within the fish classification.