Fish · La Saladita, Guerrero

Yellowfin Surgeonfish

Acanthurus xanthopterus

Spanish: Chancho Aleta Amarilla

Yellowfin Surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus)
Photographed by zihuadean on iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC

The yellowfin surgeonfish or Cuvier's surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus) is one of several marine fish that change color as they get older. This characteristic confused fish identification, and originally put the young and adults in different species. With the arrival of aquaria and later, coral reef aquaculture, specialists noticed the color transformation. Only recently have zoologists begun to understand their metamorphosis.

TaxonomyActinopterygii › Acanthuriformes › Acanthuridae
Local records9 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records3,339 on iNaturalist
Most recent records2018 – 2026
Months of the 8 most recent records
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

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

Cite as: “Yellowfin Surgeonfish (Acanthurus xanthopterus) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/acanthurus-xanthopterus/, 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.