Sealife guideThe blue tang surgeonfishAcanthurus coeruleus
Last updated on 09/17/2024 at 11:51 PM
The blue tang surgeonfish (Acanthurus coeruleus)
Taxonomy
- Common name: Blue tang surgeonfish, Blue tang, blue doctorfish
- French name: Poisson chirurgien bleu, poisson chirurgien bayolle
- Spanish name: Cirujano azul
- Scientific name: Acanthurus coeruleus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
- Family name: Acanthuridae
- Order name: Acanthuriformes
- Class name: Actinopterygii
Description
The blue tang surgeonfish is distinguished by its oval and flattened body covered with small, smooth scales. It features a bright blue color that intensifies with age and may have yellowish hues when it is young.
Note the presence of a sharp, lateral spine at the base of the blue tang's tail !
On each side of its tail, the blue tang surgeonfish has a sharp spine, resembling a scalpel, which helps it defend against predators.
The blue tang surgeonfish typically measures about 10 to 12 inches in length with a maximum size of up to 16 inches.
Geographic range
The blue tang surgeonfish is primarily found in the tropical waters of the western Atlantic ocean. Its range extends from the coasts of
Florida and the Bahamas to the Caribbean, including the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles, as well as along the coasts of the Sargasso sea.
Habitat
The blue tang surgeonfish typically inhabits coral reefs, seagrass beds and rocky areas where it hides in crevices. It is commonly found in shallow waters up to about 65 feet deep.
The blue tang surgeonfish (Acanthurus coeruleus)
Diet
The blue tang surgeonfish is an omnivore with a strong herbivorous tendency. It primarily feeds on algae but also consumes small marine organisms.
Did you know ?
The blue tang surgeonfish gets its name from the presence of a sharp, scalpel-like spine on either side of its tail which it uses to keep predators at bay !
The blue tang surgeonfish (Acanthurus coeruleus)
The blue tang surgeonfish is listed as many other marine species within The
IUCN Red List of threatened species. The blue tang surgeonfish appears in the
IUCN Red List since 2012 within the category Least Concern !
Doctorfish
(Acanthurus chirurgus)
Mimic surgeonfish
(Acanthurus pyroferus)
Orangeband surgeonfish
(Acanthurus olivaceus)
Palelipped surgeonfish
(Acanthurus leucocheilus)
Powder blue tang
(Acanthurus leucosternon)
Sohal surgeonfish
(Acanthurus sohal)
Striped surgeonfish
(Acanthurus lineatus)
Yellowfin surgeonfish
(Acanthurus xanthopterus)
Within the same family
Bluetail unicornfish
(Naso caeruleacauda)
Humpback unicornfish
(Naso brachycentron)
Indian sailfin surgeonfish
(Zebrasoma desjardinii)
Kole tang
(Ctenochaetus strigosus)
Orangespine unicornfish
(Naso lituratus)
Paletail unicornfish
(Naso brevirostris)
Palette surgeonfish
(Paracanthurus hepatus)
Sailfin tang
(Zebrasoma velifer)
Discover also
Black axil chromis
(Chromis atripectoralis)
Blue-green chromis
(Chromis viridis)
Coney
(Cephalopholis fulva)
Fourhorn poacher
(Hypsagonus quadricornis)
Gag grouper
(Mycteroperca microlepis)
Moon wrasse
(Thalassoma lunare)
Pearl toby
(Canthigaster margaritata)
Red grouper
(Epinephelus morio)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Ballyhoo
(Hemiramphus brasiliensis)
Gag grouper
(Mycteroperca microlepis)
Hawksbill sea turtle
(Eretmochelys imbricata)
Midnight parrotfish
(Scarus coelestinus)
Spotted goatfish
(Pseudupeneus maculatus)
Spotted spiny lobster
(Panulirus guttatus)
Yellowhead jawfish
(Opistognathus aurifrons)
Dive centers
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa dive center
