Order Perciformes Family Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) Whitebar surgeonfish Acanthurus leucopareius(Jenkins, 1903). 25.0 cm TL Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-27; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 23 - 25.
Distribution; Western Central Pacific/primarily anti-equatorial; Mariana Islands, Taiwan, southern Japan, Marcus Islands, and the Hawaiian Islands in the north and New Caledonia, Rapa(Austral Islands), and Tuamoto Islands, Pitcairn group, and Easter Island in the south. General; A whitish bar broadly bordered by dark brown from origin of dorsal fin across operculum. With a broad white band at the base of caudal fin, caudal fin without a white posterior margin. Acanthurus leucopareius inhabits rocky and coral reefs, primarily boulder-strewn areas of surge zone. It browses on filamentous algae, often in large aggregations that overwhelm the defenses of territorial damselfishes and surgeonfishes. It may mix with A. triostegus when feeding. It is classified as a grazer. The sexes are separate among the acanthurids. Acanthurids do not display obvious sexual dimorphism, males assume courtship colours.
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