Stats

Lifespan

10-30 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Herbivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Coral reef

Range

Indian Ocean

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Spines

Status

Rare

About

The powder blue tang is a small fish found in the Indian Ocean, with a blue body and white underbelly. Its distinctive feature is its ability to secrete a poisonous substance from glands near its gills.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Acanthuriformes

Family

Acanthuridae

Genus

Acanthurus

Species

Acanthurus leucosternon