Acanthurus guttatus
Spot this white-spotted reef surgeon in the surf zones of Hawaii, French Polynesia and Reunion, in water around 25-29C year-round.
Dark brown to blackish body covered in small white spots, with a bold white band across the base of the tail that stands out even in surge-churned water. Compact, oval-bodied surgeonfish around 18 cm, usually seen holding position low over the reef in shallow, wave-washed terrain. The white tail band and speckled flanks together are the giveaway, no other reef fish in its range combines both.
Almost always found in the shallowest, most turbulent part of the reef, the surge zone and wave-break area in less than 10 metres, where it grazes algae off rock and rubble in small groups. Divers usually see it holding its ground against the wash rather than fleeing, tolerant of snorkellers and shallow divers who keep some distance. Often mixed in with other surgeonfish species picking over the same algae-covered rock.
Its habit of living right in the breaking surf, a zone most reef fish avoid, means it's often easier to see well while snorkelling or shore diving than from a boat dive.
No clear seasonal pattern in sightings, comfortable in 25 to 29.3C water year-round makes this a fish you can plan around any month on tropical reefs.
Reef neighbours a diver could mistake it for. Use the identification notes above to tell them apart.
Most reliably logged in Hawaii, especially around shallow reef flats, and a strong presence through French Polynesia in the Society and Tuamotu Islands. Also a regular find on Reunion's reefs, in the Maldives' southern atolls, and around Niue and the Cook Islands' Rarotonga.
Mapping where Whitespotted Surgeonfish is logged…
Hawaii is the most consistent place to find them, particularly on shallow reef flats, with strong numbers also logged across French Polynesia's Society and Tuamotu Islands, Reunion, the Maldives' southern atolls, and Niue.
There's no strong seasonal pattern in sightings. They stay in water between roughly 25 and 29C, so they're present on shallow reefs year-round.
Look for a dark brown, oval-shaped body covered in small white spots with a clean white band across the tail base. It's typically seen in shallow, surgy water holding position while grazing algae.
They reach about 18 cm, a small, compact surgeonfish that stays close to shallow reef structure rather than roaming open water.
No, they're harmless herbivores and pose no threat to divers or snorkellers.
Site and sighting data is aggregated from diver logs, iNaturalist and GBIF. For taxonomy and conservation status:
Striped Surgeonfish
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