Yellow Tang

Yellow Tang 

 

Common Names 

Yellow surgeon-fish or Yellow Hawaiian Tang 

Scientific Name 

Zebrasoma flavescens 

Family 

 Acanthuridae 

Diet 

Herbivore  

Natural Habitat/Origin 

     The Yellow Tang is a popular saltwater fish that is considered endemic to Hawaiian waters. Its habitat extends to other areas that include Johnston Island and westward of the northern Marshall Islands to Wake, Marcus, Guam, and other Marianas Islands. The habitat of this fish ranges from reefs of 100 feet or more but larger specimens tend to stay in shallow waters near the reef while juveniles usually prefer the deeper waters where finger corals are present. 

Appearance 

     Yellow Tang begin as a clear larva before developing their narrow, oval-shaped, bright yellow body. They have long snouts along with seven fins including spiny dorsal and anal fins. To defend themselves, the yellow tang has a sharp white spine on both sides of their tails. These fish change color over the course of the day. During the day the fish take on a bright yellow color but at night their color changes to a dark, grayish-yellow with a white lateral stripe. 

Conservation Status 

     This is a species of the least concern according to the ICUN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), although fishing and harvesting aquatic resources for biological resource use does pose a threat to the Yellow Tang.