A field guide to Kahekili’s protected fish.

Pākuʻikuʻi

Achilles tang

Acanthurus achilles

Identification

Black body, orange teardrop near the tail and white tail markings.

Typical maximum

about 10 in / 25 cm

Reef role

Grazes turf algae on wave-washed reef.

Hawaiian bristletooth

Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis

Identification

Dark adult with fine orange-brown lines; juveniles are bright orange.

Typical maximum

about 10 in / 25 cm

Reef role

Comb-like teeth sweep fine algae and detritus.

Kala

Orangespine unicornfish

Naso lituratus

Identification

Dark face mask, orange lips and bright orange tail-base spines.

Typical maximum

about 18 in / 46 cm

Reef role

Browses larger fleshy algae.

Kala

Bluespine unicornfish

Naso unicornis

Identification

Gray body, forehead horn and vivid blue plates at the tail base.

Typical maximum

about 28 in / 70 cm

Reef role

A major browser of coarse seaweed.

Lauʻīpala

Yellow tang

Zebrasoma flavescens

Identification

Uniform bright yellow, disk-shaped body and pointed snout.

Typical maximum

about 8 in / 20 cm

Reef role

Crops filamentous algae during the day.

Naʻenaʻe

Orangeband surgeonfish

Acanthurus olivaceus

Identification

Adult has a bold orange shoulder patch and dark rear half.

Typical maximum

about 14 in / 35 cm

Reef role

Feeds on film and turf algae.

Kole

Goldring surgeonfish

Ctenochaetus strigosus

Identification

Brown with fine pale lines and a yellow ring around the eye.

Typical maximum

about 6 in / 15 cm

Reef role

Removes diatoms, detritus and fine algae.

Maiko

Whitebar surgeonfish

Acanthurus leucopareius

Identification

Dark band behind the eye and pale bar at the tail base.

Typical maximum

about 10 in / 25 cm

Reef role

Schools while grazing shallow, surge-swept reef.

Manini

Convict tang

Acanthurus triostegus

Identification

Pale silver body crossed by five strong black bars.

Typical maximum

about 11 in / 27 cm

Reef role

Schools rapidly crop low algal growth.

Uhu

Regal parrotfish

Scarus dubius

Identification

Color changes by life phase; adults show orange-pink and blue-green.

Typical maximum

about 14 in / 35 cm

Reef role

Scrapes algae from hard reef surfaces.

Uhu

Pacific bullethead parrotfish

Chlorurus spilurus

Identification

Blunt head; terminal adults are bright green-blue with salmon markings.

Typical maximum

about 15 in / 38 cm

Reef role

Excavates algae and old reef material.

Uhu

Spectacled parrotfish

Chlorurus perspicillatus

Identification

Large endemic uhu; adult males have blue-green and pink patterning.

Typical maximum

about 24 in / 61 cm

Reef role

A powerful excavating grazer endemic to Hawaiʻi and Johnston Atoll.

Uhu pālukaluka

Redlip parrotfish

Scarus rubroviolaceus

Identification

Large-bodied; terminal males are blue-green with purple-red scale edges.

Typical maximum

about 27 in / 70 cm

Reef role

Large bites renew algae-covered reef surfaces.

Nenue

Gray chub / rudderfish

Kyphosus species

Identification

Deep silver-gray body; schools often cruise above the reef.

Typical maximum

some exceed 20 in / 50 cm

Reef role

Browses larger fleshy algae smaller grazers may leave.