Zebrasoma xanthurum

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Zebrasoma xanthurum
Zebrasoma xanthurum2.JPG
Status iucn3.1 LC.svg
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1] (Global)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Acanthuridae
Genus: Zebrasoma
Species:
Z. xanthurum
Binomial name
Zebrasoma xanthurum
(Blyth, 1852) [3]
Synonyms [4]
  • Acanthurus xanthurus Blyth, 1852

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

Zebrasoma xanthurum was first formally described as Acanthurus xanthurus in 1852 by the English zoologist Edward Blyth with its type locality given as Sri Lanka. [5] However, this species has not reliably been recorded in Sri Lanka since Blyth's description and the type locality may be erroneous. [1] The yellowtail tang is part of a species pair within the genus Zebrasoma , along with the longnose tang ( Z. rostratum ). [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]

Etymology

Zebrasoma xanthurum has the specific name xanthurum, meaning “yellow tail”, a reference to the yellow caudal fin of this species. [8]

Description

Zebrasoma xanthurum has its dorsal fin supported by 5 spines and 24 or 25 soft rays while the anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 19 or 20 soft rays. [9] This species has a deep laterally compressed body, a protruding snout and high dorsal and anal fins. [10] The depth of the body fits 1.7 to 1.9 times into its standard length while the longest dorsal fin ray fits 3.3 to 3.7 times into the standard length. The snout has a concave profile on both the upper and lower sides. There is a velvet-like patch of bristles on the caudal peduncle anterior to the spine. The juveniles have a rounded caudal fin but in adults it may be slightly rounded or truncate. The head and body of adults are dark blue to purple, contrasting with the bright yellow caudal fin. The head and anterior part of the body are marked with black spots and these extend onto the adjacent fins. There are irregular black horizontal lines on the rest of the body and fins apart from the caudal fin and the pectoral fins have the outer third coloured yellow. Juveniles and subadults have dark brown longitudinal lines on their bodies. [9] The yellowtail tang has a maximum published total length of 36.7 cm (14.4 in), although a total length of 10 cm (3.9 in) is more typical. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Zebrasoma xanthurum is endemic to the north western Indian Ocean where it is found in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and around the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula into the Persian Gulf. It is also found around Socotra. A record from Sardinia in 2015 is thought to be an aquarium release. [11] A record from the Maldives is thought to be a misidentification and the type locality of Sri Lanka is thought to be an error. [1] These fishes are found in groups at depths down to 20 m (66 ft) over coral rich or rocky areas. [4]

Biology

Zebrasoma xanthurum is a herbivorous grazer of filamentous algae. They follow a daily pattern of feeding in single individuals or pairs during the day and at sunset the stop feeding and move into their shelter for the night among corals or in crevices. [1] The juveniles are cryptic and hide among coral. [10]

Conservation status

Zebrasoma xanthurum is a minor item in the aquarium trade. The IUCN assess its conservation status on a global level as Least Concern, [1] but in the Persian Gulf it has a small area of suitable habitat that is subject to destruction by coastal development and is assessed as Vulnerable. [2]

Related Research Articles

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

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.

<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">Yellowspotted sawtail</span> Species of fish

The yellowspotted sawtail, or spotted sawtail, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the southwest Pacific 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>Zebrasoma gemmatum</i> Species of fish

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.

<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>Apolemichthys xanthurus</i> Species of fish

Apolemichthys xanthurus, the Indian yellowtail angelfish, is a species of marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. Other common names include cream angelfish, smoke angelfish, and yellowtail black angelfish. It is found in the 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>Acanthurus maculiceps</i> Species of fish

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.

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

Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus, the bluelip bristletooth, yelloweye bristletooth, goldring bristletooth, Indo-Pacific yellow tang or short-tail bristle-tooth, 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 Pacific Ocean.

<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 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.

<i>Prionurus laticlavius</i> Species of fish

Prionurus laticlavius the razor surgeonfish or razor sawtail, 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 central Pacific Ocean.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Myers, R.; Abesamis, R.; Clements, K.D.; et al. (2012). "Zebrasoma xanthurum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T178009A1519810. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T178009A1519810.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Choat, J.H. (2015). "Zebrasoma xanthurum (Persian Gulf assessment)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T178009A56983957. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Carpenter, K.E., F. Krupp, D.A. Jones and U. Zajonz, 1997. FAO species identification field guide for fishery purposes. Living marine resources of Kuwait, eastern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. FAO, Rome. 293 p.
  4. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Zebrasoma xanthurum". FishBase . June 2023 version.
  5. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Zebrasoma". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ 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 13 October 2023.
  9. 1 2 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.
  10. 1 2 "Purple Tang". Animal World. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea (Zebrasoma xanthurum)" (PDF). CIESM Publishers, Paris, Monaco. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
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