Spotted surgeonfish or spotted sawtail or yellow tail surgeon fish (Prionurus punctatus) can be found off western Mexico as far north as the Gulf of California and further south along the coast of Central America to at least El Salvador. Adults can reach about 14 inches in length. The adults have numerous dark spots on a pale body. The tail is typically yellowish.

Sawtails (Genus Prionurus) are a group of about six or more surgeonfish found primarily in the Pacific Ocean. Several well known species include:

Prionurus laticiavius - Galapagos surgeonfish - Western Central America
Prionurus maculatus - Yellow Spotted Sawtail - Australian area
Prionurus microlepidotus - Sixplate Sawtail - Primarily near Australia
Prionurus punctatus - Yellowtail surgeonfish - Western Central America
Prionurus scalprus - Scalpel Sawtail - Japan, Korea, and Taiwan
Prionurus species - Yellowtail Sawtail - Near Bali (Indonesia)

Surgeon Fish Family, Acanthuridae, contains a group of small sized fish that are found in the tropical oceans of the World. They inhabit coral reefs and are called Surgeon Fish because of the sharp blades or spines near their tails. These fish sometimes form schools.

Perch-like Fish, Order Perciformes, are the largest order of fish in both freshwater and shallow saltwater. Most of the conventional fish belong to this order. The bass, bluegills, perch and crappies of freshwater plus the groupers and sea bass of salt water belong to this order. The fish all have spiny rays in their fins and the tail fin has seventeen rays. There are approximately 150 families. Herein, we have placed the families in alphabetical sequence within this order. (In some instances the typical taxonomic sequence of families is not much help. Consider, for example, that the barracudas are usually placed between the mullets and the threadfins.)

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

NEW SEARCH