Yellow tang
Bright yellow Pacific reef fish popular in marine aquariums.
The yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) goes by several common names, including lemon sailfin, yellow sailfin tang, and somber surgeonfish. It belongs to the family Acanthuridae, which includes surgeonfishes, unicornfishes, and other tangs. This bright yellow Pacific reef fish is a favorite in saltwater aquariums. It typically inhabits shallow reefs at depths of 2 to 46 meters, ranging across the Pacific Ocean—from the Hawaiian, Ryukyu, Mariana, Marshall, Marcus, and Wake islands—with occasional sightings off Florida and in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. English naturalist Edward Turner Bennett first described the species in 1828 as *Acanthurus flavescens*, based on a specimen from the Hawaiian Islands. The genus name *Zebrasoma* refers to the zebra-like stripes on the body of the type species, the sailfin tang (*Z. velifer*). The species name *flavescens* is Latin for “yellowish,” describing the fish’s color. Within its genus, the yellow tang forms a species pair with the scopas tang (*Z. scopas*). Adults reach up to 20 centimeters in length and 1 to 2 centimeters in thickness, with males generally larger than females. Their bright yellow color fades slightly at night, when a brownish patch and a horizontal white band appear, but they quickly regain their vivid hue in daylight. They can be aggressive, are prone to marine ich, and may damage coral in reef tanks. Males and females look alike, but during mating, males change color and exhibit a shimmering behavior. The fish has five dorsal spines and 23–26 dorsal soft rays, plus three anal spines and 19–22 anal soft rays. A white spine on the caudal peduncle serves as a defense. Its snout is moderately protruding, and its small mouth contains spatulate teeth set closely together: juveniles have 12 upper and 14 lower teeth, while adults have 18 upper and 22 lower teeth. In the wild, yellow tangs can live over 40 years. Yellow tangs are primarily herbivorous, feeding on benthic, uncalcified filamentous turf algae and other marine plants, as well as some zooplankton. In captivity, they are often given meat- or fish-based foods, though experts note that a balanced diet including both plant and animal material is not harmful, as these fish occasionally need complex amino acids from animal sources. In the wild, they also provide cleaning services by removing algae from marine turtle shells.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Zebrasoma flavescens
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The yellow tang is bright yellow in color. At night, the yellow coloring fades slightly, and a prominent brownish patch develops in the middle with a horizontal white band, rapidly regaining its bright yellow color during daylight. It has a white spine on its caudal peduncle used for defense. Adult fish can grow to 20 cm in length, and 1–2 cm in thickness; adult males tend to be larger than females. Male and female look very similar, but males change color and have a shimmering behavior when mating. Its range includes shallow reefs in the Pacific Ocean, from 2–46 metres deep, in the Ryukyu, Mariana, Marshall, Marcus, Wake, and Hawaiian islands. Reports exist off the coast of Florida and in Mexico's Riviera Maya. A single specimen was filmed in the Mediterranean Sea in Spanish waters in 2008, likely an aquarium release. Its habitat is tropical with a temperature range of 24–28 °C. The yellow tang is mainly herbivorous, eating filamentous algae, benthic turf algae, and other marine plant material, as well as some zooplankton. It provides cleaner services to marine turtles by removing algal growth from their shells. Natural predators include larger fish, sharks, crabs, and octopuses. It can be aggressive, is prone to marine ich, and may damage coral within a reef tank. In the wild, yellow tangs can live for over 40 years. Spawning happens throughout the year, peaking around the time of a full moon, suggesting lunar periodicity. Spawning occurs in pairs or groups with external fertilization. Eggs are left in open water; yellow tangs are substratum egg scatterers and do not guard eggs or provide parental care. Larvae can drift more than 100 miles and reseed distant locations.
Reader's Guide
The yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) is a marine ray-finned fish in the family Acanthuridae. It has 5 dorsal spines and 23–26 dorsal soft rays, along with 3 anal spines and 19–22 anal soft rays. Its snout is moderately protruding, and its mouth is small with spatulate teeth placed close together. Juveniles have 12 upper and 14 lower teeth; adults have 18 upper and 22 lower teeth. The yellow tang is bright yellow, with a white barb on the caudal peduncle used for defense. In the wild, it lives in reefs, typically alone or in small groups or schools, and feeds on filamentous algae, benthic turf algae, and some zooplankton. It also provides cleaner services to marine turtles. Natural predators include larger fish, sharks, crabs, and octopuses. The species is heavily fished for the aquarium trade; in Hawaii alone, 300,000 to 500,000 were collected annually prior to an export ban. Nine marine protected areas were established off Hawaii, and over 70% of its natural range is protected. Larval drift helps reseed distant locations, aiding fishery recovery. In 2015, researchers successfully bred the species in captivity. In the aquarium trade, prices in the US rose from around $65–$70 before January 2021 to over $400 after a collection ban in Hawaii.
Did You Know?
- The yellow tang can live for over 40 years in the wild.
- At night, the yellow tang's color fades and a brownish patch with a horizontal white band appears.
- The species was first formally described in 1828 by Edward Turner Bennett as Acanthurus flavescens.
More in Tangs & Rabbitfish
Elsewhere in Reef Aquarium Species
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced