📷 (c) João D'Andretta, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY
📷 (c) João D'Andretta, some rights reserved (CC BY)
📷 no rights reserved
IUCN: Least Concern
Blue Tang
Paracanthurus hepatus
KingdomAnimalia›PhylumChordata›ClassActinopterygii›OrderAcanthuriformes›FamilyAcanthuridae›GenusParacanthurus
About
The blue tang is a bright reef fish with a royal-blue body, black palette pattern, and yellow tail. Like other surgeonfish, it carries sharp scalpel-like spines near the tail base for defense. It grazes algae and helps keep reef surfaces clear for coral growth.
Key Facts
⛰Habitat Coral reefs and rocky reef slopes
🍃Diet Plankton as juveniles; algae and zooplankton as adults
📏Size & Weight Body 12–30 cm
•weight Usually under 600 g
⏳Lifespan 8–20 years
🗺Range Indo-Pacific reefs from East Africa to the central Pacific
FishReef Fish
Key Facts
⛰Habitat Coral reefs and rocky reef slopes
🍃Diet Plankton as juveniles; algae and zooplankton as adults
📏Size & Weight Body 12–30 cm
•weight Usually under 600 g
⏳Lifespan 8–20 years
🗺Range Indo-Pacific reefs from East Africa to the central Pacific
Photo Credits
#1(c) João D'Andretta, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY
#2(c) João D'Andretta, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY
#3no rights reserved · CC0