Species · GBIF taxon 2379534
Palette Tang
Paracanthurus hepatusAlso known as Blue Tang, Regal Tang, Flagtail Surgeonfish, Palette Surgeonfish
Palette tangs form loose aggregations along current-swept reef crests, grazing on algae and snapping at passing zooplankton. When startled by predators, individuals dive headfirst into branching coral thickets and wedge themselves tightly between coral arms using razor-sharp tail spines. Young fish occasionally lie flat on their sides and feign death until immediate danger passes.
Reef FishHerbivorousTropical
Licensed reference(c) H. Krisp, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Filamentous Algae
- Zooplankton
- Red Macroalgae
Predators
- Coral Trout
- Giant Moray
- Blacktip Reef Shark
ThreatsCoral bleaching, habitat destruction, and localized overcollection for the aquarium trade
HabitatsClear seaward coral reefs and lagoons with abundant branching corals
Life span15–30 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAcanthuridae
- SpeciesParacanthurus hepatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sharp caudal spines can slash handlers; completely safe to observe at a normal distance while snorkeling or diving.
Responsible observation
- Diving Observation: Look for them hovering just above branching corals where currents deliver zooplankton.
- Reef Etiquette: Maintain distance from coral heads to avoid causing sheltering fish to wedge defensively.
Habitat Partner (c) Susan Prior, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Susan Prior · cc-by
Neighbor "Ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)" by krokodiver is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Predator Rickard Zerpe / CC BY 2.0 · CC BY 2.0
Same Family (c) User:Amada44, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family Brian Gratwicke / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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