Zebrasoma gemmatum

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Zebrasoma gemmatum
Zebrasoma gemmatum (Hausi).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Acanthuridae
Genus: Zebrasoma
Species:
Z. gemmatum
Binomial name
Zebrasoma gemmatum
(Valenciennes, 1835)
Synonyms
  • Acanthurus gemmatusValenciennes, 1835

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

Zebrasoma gemmatum was first formally described as Acanthurus gemmatus in 1835 by the French zoologist Achille Valenciennes with its type locality given as Mauritius. [2] The gem tang is classified in a monospecific clade, less basal than the striped clade, Z. desjardinii and Z. velifer but moreso than the other 2 clades. [3] 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 . [4]

Etymology

Zebrasoma gemmatum has the specific name gemmatum, meaning "jewelled", presumed to be an allusion to the many spots on the body. [5]

Description

Zebrasoma gemmatum has its dorsal fin supported by 4 spines and 27 or 28 soft rays while its anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 24 or 25 soft rays. [6] The body is deep, its depth fitting into the standard length 1.6 to 1.9 times. The snout is of medium length with a concave dorsal profile. The high dorsal fin has a longest ray which would fit into the standard length between 2.6 and 3.2 times, with smaller fishes having proportionateley longer rays. The overall colour of this fish is dark brown with a large number of small white spots, these spots are typically round but some may be stretched lengthways, on the head body, anal fin and dorsal fin. The caudal fin is yellow. [7] The maximum published total length of 22 cm (8.7 in). [6]

Distribution and habitat

Zebrasoma gemmatum is endemic to the southwestern Indian Ocean. It has been recorded from South Africa between Kosi Bay and the Eastern Cape, [7] although it has also been recorded from Mozambique. It is also found off Madagascar, the French Southern Territories in the Mozambique Channel, Réunion and Mauritius. [1] This is a rare, territorial species typically found singly on coral reefs in deeper waters down to around 60 m (200 ft), typically deeper than 25 m (82 ft). [7]

Utilisation and conservation status

Zebrasoma gemmatum is highly prized in the aquarium trade and reaches high prices in that trade. [1] For example in 2023 prices per fish are between US$300 and US$3000. [8] The IUCN assess the conservation status of the gem tang as Data Deficient as very little is known about its biology or how the harvest for the aquarium trade affects the population. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Zebrasoma</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<i>Zebrasoma desjardinii</i> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sohal surgeonfish</span> Species of fish

The sohal surgeonfish or sohal 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 northwestern Indian Ocean.

<i>Naso brevirostris</i> Species of fish

Naso brevirostris, also known as the short-nosed unicornfish, spotted unicornfish, brown unicornfish, lined unicornfish, longnose surgeonfish, palefin unicornfish, paletail unicornfish, shorthorned unicornfish or shortsnouted unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. It occurs in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

<i>Ctenochaetus</i> Genus of fishes

Ctenochaetus, or bristletooth tangs, is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region. They have many, small flexible teeth and some species have the common name bristletooth.

<i>Zebrasoma rostratum</i> Species of fish

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.

<i>Zebrasoma scopas</i> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailfin tang</span> Species of fish

The sailfin tang, 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.

<i>Zebrasoma xanthurum</i> Species of fish

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.

<i>Naso lituratus</i> Species of fish

Naso lituratus, the clown unicornfish, orangespined unicornfish, black-finned unicornfish, Pacific orangespined unicornfish, blackfinned unicornfish or stripefaced unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Ctenochaetus binotatus</i> Species of fish

Ctenochaetus binotatus, the twospot bristletooth or twospot surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes unicornfishes and tangs. This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<i>Ctenochaetus striatus</i> Species of fish

Ctenochaetus striatus, the striated surgeonfish, lined bristletooth, fine-lined bristletooth or striped bristletooth, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicoornfishes and tangs This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<i>Acanthurus nigrofuscus</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus nigrofuscus, the brown surgeonfish, blackspot surgeonfish, brown tang, dusky surgeon, lavender tang or spot-cheeked surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the familyAcanthuridae, which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornishes and tangs. This species is a common and abundant fish occurring across a wide Indo-Pacific range.

<i>Acanthurus thompsoni</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus thompsoni, the night surgeonfish, chocolate surgeonfish, Thompson's surgeonfish, Thompson's tang or whitetail 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.

<i>Ctenochaetus truncatus</i> Species of fish

Ctenochaetus truncatus, the Indian gold-ring bristletooth, squaretail bristletooth, yelloweye bristletooth, truncate bristletooth or spotted yellow eye 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 Indian Ocean.

<i>Naso elegans</i> Species of fish

Naso elegans, the elegant unicornfish, the blonde naso tang, Indian orange-spine unicorn, lipstick surgeonfish, lipstick tang, orangespine unicornfish or smoothheaded unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

<i>Naso fageni</i> Species of fish

Naso fageni, the horseface unicornfish or blunt unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Naso minor</i> Species of fish

Naso minor, the blackspine unicornfish, slender unicornfish, lesser unicornfish or pony unicornfish, 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 region.

<i>Naso thynnoides</i> Species of fish

Naso thynnoides, the oneknife unicornfish, oneknife unicorn, thunny unicornfish, singlespine unicornfish, one-spine unicorn, or barred unicornfish, 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.

<i>Naso tuberosus</i> Species of fish

Naso tuberosus, the humpnose unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species occurs in the Indian Ocean but it may be more widespread.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Myers, R.; Choat, J.H.; Abesamis, R.; et al. (2012). "Zebrasoma gemmatum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T177973A1508182. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T177973A1508182.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Zebrasoma". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Radu C. Guiasu and Richard Winterbottom (1993). "Osteological Evidence for the Phylogeny of Recent Genera of Surgeonfishes (Percomorpha, Acanthuridae)". Copeia. 1993 (2): 300–312. doi:10.2307/1447130. JSTOR   1447130.
  4. ↑ J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 497–502. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6.
  5. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (12 January 2021). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 2): Families EPHIPPIDAE, LEIOGNATHIDAE, SCATOPHAGIDAE, ANTIGONIIDAE, SIGANIDAE, CAPROIDAE, LUVARIDAE, ZANCLIDAE and ACANTHURIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  6. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Zebrasoma gemmatum". FishBase . June 2023 version.
  7. 1 2 3 John E. Randall (2022). "Family Acanthuridae". In Phillip C Heemstra; Elaine Heemstra; David A Ebert; Wouter Holleman; John E Randall (eds.). Coastal Fishes of the Western Indian Ocean (PDF). Vol. 5. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. pp. 219–244. ISBN   978-1-990951-32-9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  8. ↑ Miles Harrison (24 March 2023). "Gem Tang: Pricing, Care, Reef Compatibility & More". light.fish. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
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