noun
- a tropical marine fish with a sharp, blade-like spine on each side of its tail that can be used for defense
Usage: marine biology
Examples
- The bright yellow surgeonfish swam gracefully through the coral reef.
- Surgeonfish use their sharp tail spines to defend themselves from predators.
- The aquarium’s tropical tank featured several species of surgeonfish.
- Divers often spot surgeonfish grazing on algae near coral formations.
- The surgeonfish’s distinctive spine earned it its common name.
- Blue tangs are a popular type of surgeonfish in home aquariums.