Orange-socket Surgeonfish

Acanthurus auranticavus has 9 spines and 25 or 26 soft rays supporting the dorsal fin while the anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 23 or 24 soft rays. The sharp spine on the caudal peduncle is large and is between a quarter and half of the length of the head. The overall colour is dark brown with an area diffused with orange brown beneath the pectoral fin. The socket containing the spine on the caudal peduncle is orange and there are orange blotches to the front and rear of the pupil. There is a white band around the base of the caudal fin. This species has a maximum published standard length of 45 cm (18 in).

Acanthurus auranticavus is found in the Indian and Western PacificOceans. In the Indian Ocean it has been reported from the Maldives and the Seychelles, and recently Christmas Island. In the Western Pacific it is more widespread being found from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. In Australia it is found on the northern Great Barrier Reef and other reefs in the Coral Sea, possibly as far south as Lady Elliot Island in Queensland. It has also been found at Ashmore Reef, Scott reef and Rowley Shoals in the Timor Sea. Adults are encountered in the vicinity of shallow water reefs in both the lagoon and outer reef zones and they often swim in schools, sometimes in mixed species schools. Juveniles live in shallow water down to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) among soft corals.

== References ==

Acanthurus auranticavus has a specific name, auranticavus, which is a compound of aurantia, meaning "orange", and cavus, meaning "cavity". This is a reference to the orange colour of the socket holding the spine on the caudal peduncle.