Larvae with deep and laterally compressed body, becoming kite-shaped at flexion stage. Second spines of dorsal and anal fins, and pelvic spine, elongate and serrate. Edges of head, lower jaw, and throat serrated. Mouth is small and terminal, with small conical teeth on both jaws. Head and body lightly pigmented (Acanthurus sp). Because of this peculiar body form, identification of genus Acanthurus is easy, but species identification is difficult because of overlapping meristic characters and geographical ranges (Leis and Richards, 1984).
Table Acanthuridae
22 geographic zones