Sailfin Tang

Zebrasoma velifer

Sailfin Tang

Zebrasoma velifer

Other Common Names
Pacific Sail-fin Surgeonfish

Connected Coasts

Other Common Names

Pacific Sail-fin Surgeonfish

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

The sailfin tang has a stripe pattern spanning its body with alternating broad black-brown bars and narrow white bars with yellow lines. Its caudal fin is yellow, and the dorsal and anal fins are rounded.

Juveniles are small with tail fins ranging from gray to bright yellow. Juveniles have two black vertical stripes on their heads.

About 40 cm in length.

Habitat

Coral reefs, from shallow protected areas to outer reef habitats.

Diet

Algae

Life History

Like other members of the Acanthuridae family, sailfin tangs are pelagic spawners, releasing eggs and sperm into the water.

After hatching, the larvae float in the current as they grow, eventually settling onto the reef and becoming adults.

Sailfin tang are mostly solitary, but sometimes adults live in pairs.

Average lifespan is about 27 years.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

In parts of its range, the sailfin tang is caught by humans for food.

The sailfin tang helps coral reef ecosystems thrive by preventing algae from becoming overgrown.

Christmas Island and Vietnam eastward to Pitcairn group, Hawaiian Islands, northward to southern Japan, southward to Rottnest Island and New South Wales, Australia and Rapa, French Polynesia not including the Marquesas.

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.

Similar to other surgeonfishes, the sailfin tang has spines on their caudal fin to protect them from predators. They can slash other fish with a rapid side-swipe of the tail.

Citations & Other Resources

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

Kuiter, R. H. 1997. Guide to sea fishes of Australia. New Holland, Frenchs Forest, Australia.

Leis, J. M., and B. M. Carson-Ewart. 2000. The larvae of Indo-Pacific coastal fishes: an identification guide to marine fish larvae. Brill, Leiden.

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

Sailfin Tang

Sailfin Tang

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

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