Unique to this species of surgeonfish are the orange tail spines and anal fin. The orangespine unicornfish is brown or gray in coloration, has a yellow forehead, and a black band at the base of the dorsal fin. Unlike some other species of unicornfish, this species lacks a horn. Males will develop long trailing filaments from each corner of the tail.
A pair of wide, black, diffuse bars, or “double saddle”, is how you can distinguish this butterflyfish from others. The Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish is white with thin, black lines on the body. The back fourth of the body is bright yellow and has a black spot at the base of the tail fin.
Dark brown to black with rear body white that extends from the dorsal and anal fins. Black spot covers pectoral fin base.
Both TP and IP individuals have green and orange/pink lines on the face and head. The back half of the body in both phases is light greenish blue and each scale has a dark blue bar, giving the fish a distinctly “checkerboarded” look, but this is not very obvious. A distinctive key for this species is the yellow blotches just under the dorsal fin, you can think of these as checkers.
Blue with a few scattered white spots. Yellow to transulcent fins. Yellow to white belly. Males have pale patch on upper tail base. Females have black spot on below rear dorsal fin.
This butterflyfish is white-yellow in coloration and has a chevron pattern of narrow lines. The vagabond butterflyfish has narrow black bands at the back of the body.
This small angelfish is bright yellow with a blue edge on its gill covers. There is also usually a blue ring around the eyes.
The body coloration on the brushtail tang is yellowish-brown fading to almost black around the tail area. There are dark, brush-like bristles near the white scalpel, or tail spine. When the dorsal and ventral fins are spread, this fish looks very tall. Small juveniles have yellow bars.
Of the lighter colored butterflyfish, the blacklip butterflyfish is the only one with black lips. The blacklip butterflyfish has a white to brown head with a wide, brown, diffuse, central bar. Its back half of the body and tail fin are brownish yellow in coloration.
The coral grouper also has small bright blue dots that cover its body, except for its pectoral fins. The coral grouper is orange-red to reddish brown in coloration. Occasionally display pale bars.