A surgeonfish with a visible tail spine beside a coral reef formation, an algae-covered rock, and a transparent larval fish silhouette on a light gray background.

Scalpel Tails and Algae Grazers — How Well Do You Know Surgeonfish?

Coral Reef Fish

Difficulty

Hard

Questions

25

Volts

3/q

Named after a surgeon's blade and armed with tail spines that back it up. Surgeonfish graze algae in schools, host unique gut bacteria, and start life as transparent larvae. This quiz cuts into the science behind the reef's sharpest herbivores.

Sign In to Play

Sign in or create an account to play

More ZapStacks in Coral Reef Fish

A triggerfish with a raised dorsal spine beside a sea urchin, a crossbow silhouette, and a sandy nest with scattered eggs on a light gray background.

28 Zaps · Medium

An inflated spherical pufferfish with visible spines and beak-like teeth above a geometric sand circle pattern and a fugu plate on a light gray background.

25 Zaps · Medium

A stout grouper with a large open mouth beside a coral reef formation, a moray eel silhouette, and an octopus tentacle on a light gray background.

41 Zaps · Medium

A colorful damselfish guarding a coral patch beside algae on rock, a mysid shrimp, and a nest of fish eggs on a light gray background.

29 Zaps · Hard

A stylized orange and cream striped angelfish swims near tan coral and a large seashell with bubbles floating above.

25 Zaps · Hard

A geometric orange and white fish swims near a branch of coral with hexagonal bubbles.

20 Zaps · Hard

A stylized orange and white clownfish swims among coral and anemones with bubbles rising to the right.

20 Zaps · Medium

A stylized lionfish with orange and tan stripes swims near coral, a small fish, and bubbles.

20 Zaps · Medium

A geometric clownfish swims above a brain coral and a sea anemone, surrounded by small bubbles.

20 Zaps · Medium