Blue Tang
Acanthurus coeruleus

Size: 125-275 mm

ID: This acanthurid is distinguished by its bright blue coloration. For this reason, it is the most sought after Atlantic surgeonfish for the aquarium trade.

Class: Actinopterygii / Ray-finned fishes

Order: Perciformes / Perch-like fishes

Family: Acanthuridae / Surgeonfishes

Genus Species: Acanthurus coeruleus / Blue Tang

Habitat: Reef. The blue tang is found from New York to São Paolo (Rocha et al., 2002), and throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

Food: Primarily herbivorous; feed on brown and red benthic algae (Tilghman et al., 2001).