©Jonathan Beeston
©Jonathan Beeston
©David: Upolu Reef
Colours
Distinguishing features
It has a royal blue body, yellow tail, and black 'palette' design. The lower body is yellow in the west-central Indian Ocean. It is rather flat, like a pancake, with a circular body shape, a pointed snout-like nose, and small scales.
It has 9 dorsal spines, 26-28 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines, and 24-26 anal soft rays. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Up to 30 cm (Total Length)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Interesting facts
- Spawning occurs during late afternoon and evening hours. This event is indicated by a change in color from a uniform dark blue to a pale blue. (Wikipedia) Late 2018: This is the first time the famous ‘Dory’ has been sighted at Upolu (perhaps in all of Cairns). A star on the reef as well as the screen, the only member of the Paracanthurus genus, beautifully coloured (to show off its venomous spine) and a renowned actor (will play dead if threatened).
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Its range is broad, but it is common nowhere. It can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific. It is seen in reefs of East Africa, Japan, Samoa, New Caledonia, and the Great Barrier Reef. (Wikipedia)
Behaviour
They live in pairs, or in a small groups of up to 10 or 12 individuals. (Wikipedia)
Diet
As a juvenile, its diet consists primarily of plankton. Adults are omnivorous and feed on plankton, but will also graze on algae. (Wikipedia)
