Ecology of Acanthurus nigricauda
 
Main Ref. Thresher, R.E. and P.L. Colin, 1986
Remarks Occurs in clear lagoon and seaward reefs around isolated coral heads. Prefers sandy bottoms of bays and lagoons rather than the coral reefs like most other Acanthuridae. Herbivorous (Ref. 43650). Stomach is muscular and gizzard-like. Principal food items are benthic sediments and filamentous microalgae (Ref. 5543).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Acanthurus nigricauda may be found.

Habitat

Substrate Soft Bottom: sand;: rocky;
Substrate Ref. Broad, G., 2003
Special habitats Beds: sea grass; Coral Reefs: lagoons;
Special habitats Ref. Nguyen, N.T. and V.Q. Nguyen, 2006

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type plants/detritus+animals (troph. 2.2-2.79)
Feeding type Ref. Thresher, R.E. and P.L. Colin, 1986
Feeding habit grazing on aquatic plants
Feeding habit Ref. Dalzell, P., 1989
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition
From individual food items 2.99 0.40 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. oophagy)
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