Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes), subfamily: Acanthurinae
Order: Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name: Yellow tang
Max. size: 20.0 cm


Environment: reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 – 46m
Climate: tropical; 24 – 28°C; 30°N - 8°N, 127°e - 79°w
Importance: aquarium: commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family


Distribution:
Gazetteer Pacific Ocean: Ryukyu, Mariana, Marshall, Marcus, Wake and Hawaiian islands. Has been reported off the coast of Florida in the Western Central Atlantic.


Biology:
Inhabits coral-rich areas of lagoon and seaward reefs from below the surge zone to about 46 m (Ref. 9710). Engybenthic over rock at 1-81 m (Ref. 58302). Occurs singly or in loose groups and browses on filamentous algae. A popular aquarium fish and the top marine fish export from Hawaii. Group spawning and pair-spawning by territorial males that court passing females were observed. Presence of a venom gland could not be determined despite the presence of distinct anterolateral grooves; this may be due to the loss of venom glands in adults