Fish · La Saladita, Guerrero

Whitecheek Surgeonfish

Acanthurus nigricans

Spanish: Cirujano cariblanco

Whitecheek Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans)
Photographed by ronwoheau on iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC

The whitecheek surgeonfish, also known as the goldenrim surgeonfish or yellow-spotted surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans), is a reef-associated tang found from the central Indo-Pacific area to the eastern Pacific coast, Hawaii included. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to 21.3 cm in length. Most often recorded in Jun, Dec, Apr.

TaxonomyActinopterygii › Acanthuriformes › Acanthuridae
Local records4 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records1,990 on iNaturalist
Recorded here2018 – 2025
Months recorded near La Saladita
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Fish guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Whitecheek Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/acanthurus-nigricans/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.