Pacific Sailfin tang, Zebrasoma veliferum

 

This fish is named for it's sail-like dorsal and anal fins, which are raised when the fish is alarmed or when sparring with rivals.

(click to see sparring tangs).

 

Cows of the reef.....

Like most members of the surgeonfish family, sailfin tangs are herbivorous fish that spend their days grazing on algae growing on the reef. An abundance of tangs, other surgeonfish, and other herbivores on the reef helps to prevent algae from overgrowing reef-building corals in the wild. Likewise, in coral reef aquaria such as ours, herbivores such as tangs and herbivorous snails play a critical role in helping to control algal growths.

 

About Surgeonfish:

Surgeonfish get their name from the sharp, erectable, scalpel-like spines on each side of the tail base.

(click for closeup of tail spines)

Surgeonfish slash these spines at rivals and other fish thtat threaten them. At feeding time, it is not uncommon to see our blue tang and sailfin tang (also a surgeonfish) slashing their tail spines at each other. Though some surgeonfish have very large, sharp spines that can inflict serious injuries to other fish, the most we ever see in our aquarium are minor scrapes inflicted by one tang on the other, and these are infrequent.