Orange Shoulder Tang

Acanthurus olivaceus

Orange Shoulder Tang

Acanthurus olivaceus

Other Common Names
Orange band Surgeonfish, Gendarme Fish, Olive Surgeonfish

Connected Coasts

Other Common Names

Orange band Surgeonfish, Gendarme Fish, Olive Surgeonfish

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

Orange shoulder tangs are grayish brown with a horizontal orange band, edged with deep blue that’s located behind their eye and above their pectoral fin. Their head and front half of their body are paler than the rest of their body.

Juveniles are bright yellow and as they grow, larger juveniles will develop the orange shoulder band.

Orange shoulder tangs can grow up to 30 cm.

Habitat

Areas of bare rock, mixed rubble, and sand off seaward reefs. Found at depths from 9-46 m.

Diet

Dead organic matter and calcareous sediments with small portions of algae.

Life History

Like other species of surgeonfish, the orange shoulder tang reproduces by broadcast spawning. Eggs and sperm are released into the water, carried by ocean currents.

Juveniles may occur alone or in small groups in protected bays and lagoons. Adults also occur alone or in small groups.

Maximum recorded age is 33 years.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Orange shoulder tangs are occasionally sold in fish markets.

They help prevent algae from becoming overgrown on reefs and are food for larger predators.

From southern Japan to northern New South Wales, Australia, eastwards to the Hawaiian Islands and Tuamotu Archipelago. In the Indian Ocean, the orange shoulder tang is found from Christmas Island, Cocos-Keeling Islands, Western Australia to Ningaloo Reef.

This animal is not native to the Oregon Coast, however is found in the larger Pacific Ocean. It lives in the Aquarium as part of our Connected Coasts gallery.

To help digest their food, these fish have thick-walled, gizzard-like stomachs.

Like other members of the family Acanthuridae, the orange shoulder tang has caudal spines so it deter threats with a rapid side-sweep of the tail.

Citations & Other Resources

Russell, B., J. McIlwain, J.H. Choat, R. Abesamis, K.D. Clements, R. Myers, C. Nanola, L.A. Rocha & B. Stockwell. 2012. Acanthurus olivaceus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012

Myers, R. F. 1989. Micronesian reef fishes: a practical guide to the identification of the coral reef fishes of the tropical central and western Pacific. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Territory of Guam, U.S.A.

Randall, J. E. 1998. Shore fishes of Hawaiʻi. University of Hawaiʻi Press, Honolulu.

Orange Shoulder Tang

Orange Shoulder Tang

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

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