The sailfin tang can be identified by its tall, enlarged dorsal and anal fins which are dark gray to brown with pale bands.
  • Size

    15 inches (38 cm)
  • Diet

    Leafy macro algae
  • Range

    Western Indo-Pacific
  • Habitat

    Lagoon and seaward reefs

Physical Characteristics

  • Identified by its tall, enlarged dorsal and anal fins which are dark gray to brown with pale bands.
  • Has white bars alternating with grey to brown bars with a white to yellowish and brown caudal fin that has no spots.
  • Small juveniles have alternating yellow and black bars with a translucent tail. Its dorsal and anal fins are greatly enlarged.
  • Adults can reach 15.7 inches (40 cm) in length.

Diet / Feeding

  • Diet consists of leafy macro algae.

Range / Habitat

  • Occurs throughout the Western Indo-Pacific from Indonesia to the Hawaiian and Tuamoto islands, southern Japan, the southern Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, and Rapa Island as well as throughout Micronesia.
  • Found in lagoon and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone to a depth of about 100 feet (30.5 m).
  • A solitary juvenile appears among rocks or coral in shallow protected, sometimes turbid, reefs.

Reproduction & Growth

  • Oviparous, or egg-laying, species.

Conservation Status

  • “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.

Additional Information

  • Has fewer and larger pharyngeal teeth compared to other Zebrasoma species.

Sources

  • Reef Fish Identification – Tropical Pacific. Allen, G.; Steene, R.; Humann, P. and Deloach, N., pg. 51
  • www.fishbase.org