Blue Tang, Paracanthurus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1766)
Scientific name: Paracanthurus hepatus
Alternative name/s:
Blue Surgeon, Blue Surgeonfish, Flag-tail Surgeon-fish, Indo-pacific Bluetang, Palette Surgeonfish, Palette Tang, Wedgetailed Blue Tang
Blue Surgeon, Blue Surgeonfish, Flag-tail Surgeon-fish, Indo-pacific Bluetang, Palette Surgeonfish, Palette Tang, Wedgetailed Blue Tang
Click to enlarge image
Juvenile Blue Tang schooling at a depth of 10 m, south-east Horn, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea, November 1998.
Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Paracanthurus
- Species
- hepatus
- Family
- Acanthuridae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grow to 31 cm in length.
Introduction
The Blue Tang is easily recognised by its blue body with black markings. P.hepatus is the only species in the genus Paracanthurus.
Identification
The Blue Tang is a surgeonfish (family Acanthuridae) that is easily recognised by its blue body with black markings. The caudal fin is yellow with a black stripe along both the upper and lower margins.The species has a blade on both sides of the caudal peduncle and venomous fin spines.
Distribution
The Blue Tang occurs widely throughout the Indo-West Pacific. In Australia, the species occurs on nearly the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
Feeding and diet
The species feed on zooplankton.
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
