Blue Tang

ID points

• Royal blue all over, with a black palette-shaped marking on the side
• Bright yellow tail fin, triangular in shape
• One sharp white bony spine on each side of the tail base

Basics

Family

Acanthuridae

Length

20–31 cm

Depth

2-40 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Coral reefs from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific

Habitat

Shallow coral reefs

Diet

Algae, zooplankton

Easily confused with

Powder Blue TangPowder blue body, black head like a maskIndian Ocean Nose TangBright yellow dorsal fin, two orange plates on the tail baseUnicornfishAdults have a horn-like projection on the forehead

Fun fact

A blue tang carries a sharp bony spine on each side of the tail base, flicked out to slash at anything that threatens it. It grazes on algae, which makes it an important cleaner on a coral reef. It is also the species behind a famous animated film character.

More in this family

• Achilles Tang
• Convict Tang
• Yellow Tang