Blue tang surgeonfish (Acanthurus coeruleus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Acanthurus coeruleus
- Common name
- Blue tang surgeonfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Acanthuridae
- Genus
- Acanthurus
- Size
- 20–39 cm
- Depth
- 2–40 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- schooling, diurnal
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Macaronesia, Eastern Pacific, Mediterranean
Description
Acanthurus coeruleus reaches 39 cm. Surgeonfish (Acanthuridae) West Atlantic tropical (Caribbean, Florida, Brazil) with oval body uniformly vivid blue to blue-purple with small darker wavy lines, distinctive vivid yellow caudal scalpel. Juveniles are uniformly lemon-yellow (spectacular transformation). Lives from 2 to 40 m on coral and rocky Caribbean reefs, in schools grazing algae. Herbivore. Classic Caribbean dive photo subject, one of the most iconic surgeonfish of West Atlantic.
Photo of Blue tang surgeonfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Blue tang surgeonfish?
- Blue tang surgeonfish (Acanthurus coeruleus) reaches 20–39 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Blue tang surgeonfish?
- Blue tang surgeonfish is found between 2–40 m deep.
- Is the Blue tang surgeonfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Blue tang surgeonfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Blue tang surgeonfish?
- Found in: Caribbean, Macaronesia, Eastern Pacific, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Acanthurus
- Acanthurus chirurgus - Doctorfish
- Acanthurus tractus - Atlantic blue tang
- Acanthurus pyroferus - Mimic Surgeonfish
- Acanthurus lineatus - Striped Surgeonfish
- Acanthurus sohal - Sohal surgeonfish
- Acanthurus leucosternon - Powder Blue Surgeonfish
Other species in the family Acanthuridae
- Prionurus punctatus - Yellowtail surgeonfish
- Naso lituratus - Orangespine unicornfish
- Naso vlamingii - Vlaming's unicornfish
- Prionurus laticlavius - Blackstriped Surgeon
- Zebrasoma xanthurum - Yellowtail tang
- Zebrasoma desjardinii - Sailfin tang
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 159581)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5209188)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia