Yellow tang
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Zebrasoma flavescens
Tang
These fish are named for the razor-sharp scalpel or "tang" located at the base of the tail, which can be used as a weapon or as a defensive tool. When danger approaches, these fish will swim into a crevice and lock themselves in place with their tang. Once locked in, they are very hard to remove.
Habitat/Range
Shallow Pacifc waters, particularly around coral reefs in the Hawaiian Islands
Wild Diet
Need green foods such as macroalgae
Predators
Larger fish, Invertebrates, and Humans
Reproduction
Spawning may be year round in tropical areas. Males establish temporary spawning territories where they can spawn with females in pairs or in groups. The average size female can release about 40,000 eggs.
Conservation
THREATENED
Consequences of human activities, such as runoff from agriculture and overfishing, threaten the habitat of all coral reef animals.
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