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The surgeonfish family includes some of the most exquisitely patterned and colored of all reef fishes. But one feature that is common to all is that they all have one or two pairs of scalpel-like blades on the Sides of their tails. These give the family its name and can inflict serious cuts if the fish are handled carelessly.

The orangespine unicornfish (Naso lituratus) with its bright orange spots warning of its spines; the hepatus tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) with its electric blue and black body, and the clown surgeonfish (Acanihurus lineatus), oraiige-and-blue striped, are just a few examples.

Moorish idol and Rabbit-fishes. The Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus) and the rabbitfishes (Siganus) are close relatives of the surgeoniishes. The Moorish idol is for many people the quintessential reef fish; with its bright, contrasting yellow, white and black color, prominent snout, and long, thin dorsal fin, it is indeed an elegant-looking animal. They are fairly common grazers, and can be found all the way from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of Central America.