Bony fish · Perciformes · Acanthuridae

Yellow Tang

Zebrasoma flavescens

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The yellow tang is a surgeonfish of the family Acanthuridae. It is one of the most popular, hardiest and most sought-after marine fish in the aquarium trade. It is an agile and striking swimmer, and sociable with most reef dwellers, with the exception of territorial males of its own species.

Size

up to 20 cm

Lifespan

30 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanHerbivore Diurnal Fish Ocean

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Fun facts

defensaIt has a sharp spine hidden at the base of its tail that it raises in defence when threatened, which is where the surgeonfish family gets its name.
It grazes filamentous algae all day and helps stop algae from smothering the coral; in Hawai'i it is called the gardener of the reef.
It spawns around the full moon, on a lunar cycle, and does so in batches throughout the year.
It carries a sharp retractable spine at the base of the tail, like all surgeonfish.
It is the most exported marine fish from Hawai'i for the aquarium trade.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bony fish)
Habitat & environment: Coral-rich areas of lagoons and reef fronts of the central and western Pacific, between 2 and 46 m, below the surf zone

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebrasoma_flavescens