Bluebanded Surgeonfish / Hiyok
Document Actions
Bluebanded Surgeonfish / Hiyok
Acanthurus lineatus
Image from Coral Reefs CD
Surgeonfishes get their name from a pair of sharp retractible bladelike spines at the base of the tail. These are used for defense and can easily cut the hand of a careless fisherman. The blade of the hiyok is hidden in a groove located in the middle on one of its blue stripes. All of Guam's surgeonfishes are good to eat.
Hiyok occur in areas of shallow clear water that get some wave action. They are most common along the seaward reef margin, but may also occur on outer reef flats and the upper edge of lagoon reefs. They are usually found in small groups, consisting of a territorial male and several females. Hiyok feed on filamentous algae cropped from the surfaces of dead coral or rock. They are among the more aggressive of surgeonfishes and defend a patch of reef against other algae-eating fishes such as parrotfishes, rabbitfishes, and other surgeonfishes. Small hiyok are popular aquariumfishes, but require a large tank with clear, well-oxygenated water. Hiyok reach a length of about 11 inches (28 cm) and are most often caught by tokcha' guihan (fish spear), but may also be caught by talåya (cast net), tekken (gill net), and chenchulu(surround net).
There are several other kinds of surgeonfishes. Many of these are blue, brown, or black. They are known as "hugupao."
Guam Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 9/27/2005
