Indian Sailfin Tang
Zebrasoma desjardinii
Yellow tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
About
The yellow tang is one of the brightest fish on the reef, a solid, glowing yellow from nose to tail. It grows to about 20 cm long and is a common sight on shallow Pacific reefs.
- Length
- 20 cm
- Depth
- 3–46 m
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
Appearance
Its body is deep and oval-shaped, coloured a bright, solid yellow all over, with a moderately protruding snout. A sharp white spine sits at the base of the tail, which it can flick out to defend itself. At night its yellow fades, showing a brownish patch and a pale band across the middle, before brightening again by day.
Habitat
The yellow tang lives on shallow coral reefs across the tropical Pacific, from the Ryukyu and Mariana Islands to Hawaii, in water between 24 and 28 degrees C. It is usually found alone or in small, loose groups over reef and lagoon areas down to about 46 m.
Diet
It grazes mainly on filamentous algae growing on the reef, along with other plant material and some zooplankton.
Breeding
Yellow tangs spawn all year, with activity peaking around the full moon. Pairs or small groups release eggs and sperm into open water, where fertilised eggs drift and hatch with no care from the parents.
Conservation
The yellow tang is listed as a species of least concern. It has long been heavily collected for the aquarium trade, especially in Hawaii, which led to marine protected areas being set up; currents that carry drifting larvae into these reserves have since helped stocks recover.
Did you know?
Yellow tangs act as cleaners for sea turtles, picking algae off their shells out on the reef.
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