Powder Blue Tang

ID points

• Powder blue body, black head like a mask
• Bright yellow dorsal fin, pure white anal fin and underside
• A white spine on each side of the tail base

Basics

Family

Acanthuridae

Length

20–25 cm

Depth

1-25 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Indian Ocean coral reefs

Habitat

Shallow coral reefs with surge

Diet

Algae

Easily confused with

Blue TangRoyal blue all over, with a black palette-shaped marking on the sideIndian Ocean Nose TangBright yellow dorsal fin, two orange plates on the tail baseAchilles TangInk black body with a bright orange teardrop patch on the tail base

Fun fact

The powder blue tang pairs a pale blue body with a black head and a bright yellow dorsal fin, and carries a sharp bony blade on the tail base. It is a signature species of Indian Ocean reefs.

More in this family

• Convict Tang
• Unicornfish
• Yellow Tang