Details
Zebrasoma flavescens
A bright yellow surgeonfish common on central Pacific reefs, especially around Hawaii, where it grazes algae from reef surfaces.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
Occurs on coral and rocky reefs of the central Pacific, especially Hawaii, from shallow reef flats to reef slopes.
The body is disk-shaped and vivid yellow, with a sharp surgeonfish spine at the base of the tail.
Active by day, it roams reef surfaces while grazing. Individuals may be solitary or in small groups and shelter in crevices at night.
It feeds mainly on filamentous and fine algae, cropping growth from rock and coral surfaces.
Adults rise into the water column at dusk to release eggs and sperm. Eggs and larvae drift before juveniles settle on reefs.
Yellow tang is famous in the aquarium trade, and collection pressure has required careful management in some areas.
