Submitted by DiverDave on Sun, 01/10/2010 - 15:05.
It's sometimes tough to tell the difference between an ocean surgeonfish and a doctofish - both are members of the surgeonfish family. If there are body bars then it's a doctorfish. Unfortunately those bars can be so light that they can't be seen. The ocean surgeonfish usually has a more lunate tail (more concave) and a clearer pectoral fin. So sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's tough to tell the difference between the two. All in all, I think the photo is of an ocean surgeonfish.
Likely an Ocean Surgeonfish
It's sometimes tough to tell the difference between an ocean surgeonfish and a doctofish - both are members of the surgeonfish family. If there are body bars then it's a doctorfish. Unfortunately those bars can be so light that they can't be seen. The ocean surgeonfish usually has a more lunate tail (more concave) and a clearer pectoral fin. So sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's tough to tell the difference between the two. All in all, I think the photo is of an ocean surgeonfish.
Thanks
Thanks for the ID's, DiverDave.
Pier Carlo Talenti