surgeonfish
Spine-tailed swimmer
Surgeonfish are brightly colored tropical reef fish named for the scalpel-like spines near their tails, which can inflict cuts when the fish feels threatened.
They're popular in aquariums and important grazers on coral reefs, keeping algae in check.
The blue tang from *Finding Nemo* is a surgeonfish.
Sharp, biting flavor
- unicornfishHorned tropical reef fish
- ichthyologyScientific study of piscine life
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
genus · family · classification · Dory
Ocean water, chemically speaking
- tankLarge storage vessel
- reef-safeNon-toxic to marine ecosystems
- tangSharp, biting flavor
- DoryFeminine given name
hobbyist · captive · feeding · quarantine · compatible
Precise surgical knife
- spineColumn of vertebrae
- finsSwimming appendages
- gillsAquatic respiratory organs
- swim-bladderFish buoyancy organ
Marine skeletal formation
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- anemoneTentacled polyp or bloom
lagoon · atoll · benthic · symbiosis · grazing · herbivorous · reef-safe · cleaning
Of hot, humid regions
- PacificEarth's vastest ocean
- Indo-PacificCombined ocean region
- HawaiiPacific island state
- CaribbeanTropical Atlantic region
warm · oceanic · coastal · pelagic · schooling · migrate · seagrass · shallow
Column of vertebrae
- stonefishVenomous bottom-dwelling marine predator
- scorpionfishVenomous spiny marine fish
- lionfishVenomous striped reef fish
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
tang
Sharp, biting flavor
- unicornfishHorned tropical reef fish
- ichthyologyScientific study of piscine life
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
species · genus · family · classification · Dory
saltwater
Ocean water, chemically speaking
Dory · hobbyist · captive · feeding · quarantine · compatible
scalpel
Precise surgical knife
coral
Marine skeletal formation
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
anemone · lagoon · atoll · benthic · symbiosis · grazing · herbivorous · reef-safe · cleaning · polyps
tropical
Of hot, humid regions
- PacificEarth's vastest ocean
- Indo-PacificCombined ocean region
- HawaiiPacific island state
Caribbean · warm · oceanic · coastal · pelagic · schooling · migrate · seagrass · shallow · lagoon
spine
Column of vertebrae
- stonefishVenomous bottom-dwelling marine predator
- scorpionfishVenomous spiny marine fish
- lionfishVenomous striped reef fish
defensive · wound · laceration · painful · toxin · sting · sharp
vibrant
Full of life, intensity
- iridescentShowing shifting spectral colors
- huesGradations of color
- brilliantIntensely bright or gifted
vivid · palette · regal · neon · striped · banded · color-changing · markings · pigmented
- fishcod, salmon, bass, perch, eels
- marine lifeshark, sea turtles, manatees, whale, dolphins
- ocean lifeocean, sea, sea creatures, shark, sea life
- aquarium lifegoldfish, betta, guppy, neon tetra, angelfish
- Pacific wildlifecoconut crab, flying fox, fruit bat, green sea turtle, frigatebird
- reef lifeanemone, sea anemone, anemones, brain coral, fire coral
surgeonfishpufferfish
Fish that expands
blowfish · balloonfish · porcupinefish · boxfish · lionfish
surgeonfishbarracuda
Large predatory saltwater fish
moray eel · grouper · lionfish · shark · scorpionfish
surgeonfishpufferfish
Fish that expands
lionfish · moray eel · flatfish · anglerfish · seahorse