Prionurus microlepidotus

Acanthuridae
Sawtail Surgeonfish, Australian Sawtail, Sawtail, Sixplate Sawtail
  • Prionurus microlepidotus, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
    Prionurus microlepidotus, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
  • Prionurus microlepidotus, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
    Prionurus microlepidotus, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
  • Prionurus microlepidotus, Juvenile, Sydney, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Prionurus microlepidotus, Juvenile, Sydney, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Prionurus microlepidotus, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Prionurus microlepidotus, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Prionurus microlepidotus, Juvenile, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Prionurus microlepidotus, Juvenile, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Distribution
Temperate Australasia, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Plain grey body with a thin lateral line and a row of five to seven dark spines on tail base surrounded by dark blotches. Similar shaped P. maculatus (Spotted Sawtail) has only 3 spines and yellow spots and lines on body. Often changes colour to almost white at cleaning stations, and sometimes displays a white band on tail base.
Information
  • Max Size: 70 cm
  • Sea Temperature Range: 15.4-26.0°C
  • Depth: 5-30m
  • Habitat: Coral Reef, Rocky Reef
  • Habitat Generalisation Index: 15.6
    Also referred to as the SGI (Species generalisation index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here
Rarity
  • IUCN Threat Status: Least Concern
  • Occurrence: Common (28% of sites)
    Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
  • Abundance: Many (13 per transect)
    Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Joe Shields
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