Acanthuroidei
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Phylum:Chordata
Class:Actinopterygii
Order:Acanthuriformes
Suborder:Acanthuroidei
Greenwood et al, 1966[1]
Greenwood et al, 1966[1]
| Acanthuroidei | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Powderblue surgeonfish Acanthus leucosternon | |
 | |
| Moorish idol Zanclus cornutus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Suborder: | Acanthuroidei Greenwood et al, 1966[1] |
| Type species | |
| Acanthurus triostegus | |
| Families | |
|
see text | |
| Diversity | |
| 19 genera | |
Acanthuroidei /əˌkænθəˈrɔɪdiːaɪ/, is a group of ray finned fishes which is a suborder of the Acanthuriformes, although older classifications regarded it as a suborder of the Perciformes, the largest order of fish,[2] The suborder includes the surgeonfish and Moorish idol. Members of this suborder have a compressed body covered with small ctenoid scales. The name for the suborder comes from that of the surgeonfish (Acanthuridae) family within it, and is derived from the Greek words akantha and oura, which loosely translate to "thorn" and "tail", respectively, referring to the "scalpels" found on surgeonfishes' caudal peduncle.[3]
