Yellow Tang
ExploreFish
Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
The Yellow Tang is a bright yellow fish that is very popular in aquariums. It has a friendly personality and loves to eat seaweed.
Habitat: Coral reefs
Appearance
The Yellow Tang is a striking, disc-shaped fish with a vibrant, uniform yellow body. It has a small, pointed snout, a prominent dorsal fin, and a sharp, retractable scalpel-like spine on each side of its tail base, making it visually distinct.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderPerciformesFamilyAcanthuridaeGenusZebrasoma
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
At night, the Yellow Tang's vibrant yellow fades slightly, sometimes showing a brownish patch!
They use their small, specialized mouths like tiny vacuum cleaners to scrape algae off rocks!
Though usually yellow, some tangs can temporarily display a darker, mottled pattern when stressed!
Wild Yellow Tangs play a vital role in keeping coral reefs clean and growing strong!
Special abilities
Ability
Razor-Sharp Tail Scalpel
Yellow Tang has a sharp, retractable scalpel on its tail that helps them defend against predators.
Ability
Coral Reef Navigator
Yellow Tang can flatten its body to expertly maneuver through tight coral reef spaces, avoiding predators.
Ability
Algae Cleaner
Yellow Tang can graze on algae with its small mouth because it helps keep coral reefs healthy and clean.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 10-20 cm
- Weight
- 0.1-0.2 kg
- Lifespan
- 5-10 years
- Swim Speed
- 5 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 60 m
- Water Type
- Saltwater
Diet & Feeding
Yellow Tangs are herbivores, happily munching on algae to keep coral reefs clean and healthy.
Primary Foods
- filamentous algae
- diatoms
- cyanobacteria
- macroalgae
Foraging Method
- Grazing
Ecological connections
eaten by
Giant Trevally
Caranx ignobilis
a common predator of smaller reef fish.
eaten by
Leopard Coralgrouper
Plectropomus leopardus
ambushes them from coral crevices.
depends on
Yellow Porites Coral
Porites lutea
shelters within its branches and feeds on nearby algae.
eats
Coral Alga
Halimeda opuntia
grazes on various types of algae that grow on rocks.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Speedster
This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
Flavescent SurgeonfishYellow Surgeonfish
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Yellow Tang?
10-20 cm
How much does Yellow Tang weigh?
0.1-0.2 kg
How long does Yellow Tang live?
5-10 years
What does Yellow Tang eat?
Yellow Tangs are herbivores, happily munching on algae to keep coral reefs clean and healthy.
How fast can Yellow Tang swim?
5 km/h
Where is Yellow Tang usually found?
Coral reefs
How does Yellow Tang hunt?
Grazing
How deep can Yellow Tang go?
60 m
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