WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Yellow Tang

Zebrasoma flavescens

Also known as: Doctorfish, Lancetfish, Lemon Sailfin, Somber Surgeonfish, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish, Yellow Sailfin Tang, Yellow Surgeonfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Lost Chambers Aquarium, Atlantis The Palm, Dubia, United Arab Emirates · October 20131 / 18
01

Overview

Found singly or in loose schools, cruising the reef, over lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.

Surgeonfish have a blade like spine in the tail that points outwards when bent, unicorns have two hook-like plates along the tail, these are used for defence and are as sharp as a surgeons scalpel, hence the name "Surgeonfish".
Some species are venomous.

02

How to identify

COLOURS

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Pacific Ocean, Western Central Atlantic
  • Exact location · 4
  • Dive site · 7
  • Country only · 6
LIVES IN

Found singly or in loose schools, cruising the reef, over lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.

04

Adult photos 18

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderAcanthuriformes
    5. familyAcanthuridae
    6. genusZebrasoma
    7. speciesZebrasoma flavescens (Bennett, 1828)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Surgeonfishes-Tangs-Unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)