Zebrasoma velifer

(Bloch, 1795)

Vernacular names
English : Sailfin tang
French : Poisson chirurgien à voile

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Acanthuriformes (sometimes still Perciformes)
Family : Acanthuridae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults grow to 40 cm in length. Very high dorsal and anal fins. Body creamy-yellow with darker bands and vertical orange lines breaking into dots on lower flanks. Face speckled with black band. Tail dirty orange-brown with dark blue spine.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from Christmas islands and Indonesia to Hawaii and Pitcairn group, north to south Japan, south to New Caledonia. Lives in coral reefs, from shallow protected areas to outer reefs, to 40 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a large range and is occasionally common although generally occurring in low densities. Not believed to be threatened.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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