Sailfin tang | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Acanthuriformes |
Family: | Acanthuridae |
Genus: | Zebrasoma |
Species: | Z. velifer |
Binomial name | |
Zebrasoma velifer (Bloch, 1795) | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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The sailfin tang (Zebrasoma velifer), the Pacific sailfin tang, purple sailfinned tang or sailfin surgeonfish, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the Pacific Ocean and is popular in the aquarium hobby.
The sailfin tang was first formally described as Acanthurus velifer in 1795 by the German naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch with its type locality given as Tranquebar in Bloch and Schneider 1801. [3] When William John Swainson proposed the new genus Zebrasoma in 1839 he classified Bloch's Acanthurus velifer as the only species in the genus, it is therefore the type species of Zebrasoma by monotypy. [4] The sailfin tang and the Indian sailfin tang * Z, desjardinii are closely related, and have been regarded as conspecific in the past, [5] and form a species pair which is basal to the genus Zebrasoma. [6] The genera Zebrasoma and Paracanthurus make up the tribe Zebrasomini within the subfamily Acanthurinae in the family Acanthuridae, according to the 5th edition of Fishes of the World . [7]
Zebrasoma velifer has the specific name velifer, which is a combination of velo, meaning "sail", and fero, meaning "to bear", a reference to the high dorsal fin. [8] Many authors give the name as veliferum but it is a noun in apposition so velifer is correct. [3]
The sailfin tang has its dorsal fin supported by 4 or 5 spines and between 29 and 33 soft rays while its anal fin is supported by 3 spins and 23 to 26 soft rays. [2] It has a disc shaped body with very high dorsal and anal fins and when its fins are fully extended, the total height of the fish is almost equal to its length. It also has the elongated snout typical of Zebrasoma. [9] This is a brownish coloured fish marked with wide greyish brown bars separated by narrower yellow bars. The dorsal and anal fins are dark greyish to brown marked with paler bands. The caudal fin varies in colour from greyish brown to yellow. [10] The white head is covered with yellow spots and there is a dark band running though the eye with the a second slightly paler band immediately to the rear of the eye. The bands on the head are also marked with yellow dots and lines. [9] Juvenile specimens look similar to the adult fish, but with more yellow colouring. [11] This species has a maximum published standard length of 40 cm (16 in). [2]
The sailfin tang is found in the Pacific Ocean. The westernmost occurrence is around Christmas Island, in the eastern Indian Ocean, and the eastern coast of Indo-China and it extends eastwards into the Pacific as far as the Pitcairn Islands and Hawaii, north to Japan and south to Australia and Rapa Iti. It is absent from the Marquesas Islands. [1] In Australia this species is found at Rottnest Island to the Montebello ISlands and around offshore reefs in Western Australia; Ashmore reef in the Timor Sea, the northern Great Barrier Reef south to Moreton Bay in Queensland, although juveniles reach Sydney. They are also found off Middleton Reef, Elizabeth Reef and Lord Howe Island. [10] The sailfin tang is benthopelagic and is found at depths down to 45 m (148 ft) on lagoon and seaward reefs. The juveniles are solitary and occur on coral and rocky sheltered reefs, although they may sometimes be found in turbid areas. [2]
The sailfin tang is typically solitary, although they may be found in pairs. [1] They graze on leafy algae. When compared to the less basal Zebrasoma species they have less well developed pharyngeal teeth. They are diurnal and courtship and spawning take place in the early afternoon following an ebbing tide. [2]
The sailfin tang is caught as a food fish, in Guam fishers use spears and fish traps. As it is larger than the sympatric congeners the yellow tang (Z. flavescens) and the twotone tang (Z. scopas), it is of greater value as a food fish. It is also traded in the aquarium trade. [1]
Acanthuridae are the family of surgeonfishes, tangs, and unicornfishes. The family includes about 86 extant species of marine fish living in tropical seas, usually around coral reefs. Many of the species are brightly colored and popular in aquaria.
The yellow tang, also known as the lemon sailfin, yellow sailfin tang or somber surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. It is one of the most popular marine aquarium fish. It is bright yellow in color, and it lives in reefs. The yellow tang spawn around a full moon. The yellow tang eats algae. The yellow tang has a white barb, located just before the tail fin, to protect itself.
Zebrasoma is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Zebrasoma desjardinii, the Red Sea sailfin tang, Desjardin's sailfin tang, Indian sailfin tang or Indian sailfin surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the Indian Ocean.
Acanthurus xanthopterus, the yellowfin surgeonfishyellowmask surgeonfish, ringtail surgeonfish or Cuvier's surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.
Zebrasoma gemmatum, the gem tang, jewelled tang, spotted tang or Mauritian tang, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Western Indian Ocean. The spotted tang is a highly prized specimen by marine aquarists and often commands high prices.
Zebrasoma rostratum, the longnose surgeonfish, longnose tang or black tang, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the western central Pacific Ocean.
Acanthurus olivaceus, the orange-band surgeonfish, the orange-shoulder surgeonfish or the orangebar tang, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, this family includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. It lives in the tropical waters of the Indo-west Pacific.
Zebrasoma scopas, the brown tang, twotone tang, scopas tang or brush-tail tang, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. The brown tang is found throughout Oceania and is a herbivorous fish, feeding predominantly on filamentous algae. It is a highly popular fish in the aquarium trade.
Zebrasoma xanthurum, the purple tang or yellowtail tang, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is endemic to the north western Indian Ocean.
Acanthurus pyroferus, chocolate surgeonfish, mimic surgeonfish, orange-gilled surgeonfish, Pacific mimic surgeon, and yellowspot surgeon, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes the sugeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Acanthurus nigricans, the goldrim surgeonfish, velvet surgeon, whitecheek surgeonfish, yellow-banded surgeonfish or yellowrimmed surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found from the central Indo-Pacific area to the eastern Pacific coast, Hawaii included.
Acanthurus japonicus, the Japan surgeonfish, white-faced surgeonfish, gold rim tang, powder brown tang and white-nose surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes or tangs. This fish is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Acanthurus maculiceps, the white-freckled surgeonfish, yellow-freckled surgeonfish, pale-lined surgeonfish,spotted-faced surgeonfish or earbar surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific region.
Acanthurus blochii, the ringtail surgeonfish or dark surgeonfish, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific.
Acanthurus auranticavus, the ringtail surgeonfish or orange-socket surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific.
Acanthurus bariene, the bariene surgeonfish, black-spot surgeonfish, or eye-spot surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific.
Acanthurus fowleri, Fowler's surgeonfish or the horseshoe surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes or tangs. This fish is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Acanthurus grammoptilus the finelined surgeonfish, inshore surgeonfish, Northwest surgeonfish or ring-tailed surgeonfis, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
The grey-head surgeonfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes. unicornfishes and tangs. This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.