Sailfin tang
| Sailfin tang | |
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Scientific classification
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Family: | Acanthuridae |
| Genus: | Zebrasoma |
| Species: | Z. velifer
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| Binomial name | |
| Zebrasoma velifer (Bloch,1795)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Thesailfin tang(Zebrasoma velifer), thePacific sailfin tang,purple sailfinned tangorsailfin surgeonfish,is amarineray-finned fishbelonging to thefamilyAcanthuridaewhich includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the Pacific Ocean and is popular in theaquariumhobby.
Taxonomy
[edit]The sailfin tang was first formallydescribedasAcanthurus veliferin 1795 by the GermannaturalistMarcus Elieser Blochwith itstype localitygiven asTranquebarin Bloch andSchneider1801.[3]WhenWilliam John Swainsonproposed the newgenusZebrasomain 1839 he classified Bloch'sAcanthurus veliferas the only species in the genus, it is therefore thetype speciesof Zebrasoma bymonotypy.[4]The sailfin tang and the Indian sailfin tang *Z, desjardiniiare closely related, and have been regarded as conspecific in the past,[5]and form aspecies pairwhich is basal to the genusZebrasoma.[6]The generaZebrasomaandParacanthurusmake up thetribeZebrasominiwithin thesubfamilyAcanthurinaein the family Acanthuridae, according to the 5th edition ofFishes of the World.[7]
Etymology
[edit]Zebrasoma veliferhas thespecific namevelifer,which is a combination ofvelo,meaning "sail", andfero,meaning "to bear", a reference to the highdorsal fin.[8]Many authors give the name asveliferumbut it is a noun inappositionsoveliferis correct.[3]
Description
[edit]
The sailfin tang has its dorsal fin supported by 4 or 5 spines and between 29 and 33 soft rays while itsanal finis supported by 3 spins and 23 to 26 soft rays.[2]It has a disc shaped body with very high dorsal and anal fins and when its fins are fully extended, the total height of the fish is almost equal to its length. It also has the elongated snout typical ofZebrasoma.[9]This is a brownish coloured fish marked with wide greyish brown bars separated by narrower yellow bars. The dorsal and anal fins are dark greyish to brown marked with paler bands. Thecaudal finvaries in colour from greyish brown to yellow.[10]The white head is covered with yellow spots and there is a dark band running though the eye with the a second slightly paler band immediately to the rear of the eye. The bands on the head are also marked with yellow dots and lines.[9]Juvenile specimens look similar to the adult fish, but with more yellow colouring.[11]This species has a maximum publishedstandard lengthof 40 cm (16 in).[2]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The sailfin tang is found in the Pacific Ocean. The westernmost occurrence is aroundChristmas Island,in the eastern Indian Ocean, and the eastern coast ofIndo-Chinaand it extends eastwards into the Pacific as far as thePitcairn IslandsandHawaii,north to Japan and south to Australia andRapa Iti.It is absent from theMarquesas Islands.[1]In Australia this species is found at Rottnest Island to the Montebello ISlands and around offshore reefs inWestern Australia;Ashmore reefin theTimor Sea,the northernGreat Barrier Reefsouth to Moreton Bay in Queensland, although juveniles reach Sydney. They are also found offMiddleton Reef,Elizabeth ReefandLord Howe Island.[10]The sailfin tang isbenthopelagicand is found at depths down to 45 m (148 ft) on lagoon and seaward reefs. The juveniles are solitary and occur on coral and rocky sheltered reefs, although they may sometimes be found in turbid areas.[2]
Biology
[edit]The sailfin tang is typically solitary, although they may be found in pairs.[1]They graze on leafy algae. When compared to the less basalZebrasomaspecies they have less well developed pharyngeal teeth. They are diurnal and courtship andspawningtake place in the early afternoon following an ebbing tide.[2]
Utilisation
[edit]The sailfin tang is caught as a food fish, inGuamfishers usespearsandfish traps.As it is larger than the sympatric congeners theyellow tang(Z. flavescens) and thetwotone tang(Z. scopas), it is of greater value as a food fish. It is also traded in the aquarium trade.[1]
References
[edit]- ^abcdAbesamis, R.; Choat, J.H.; McIlwain, J.; et al. (2012)."Zebrasoma veliferum".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2012:e.T178010A1520055.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T178010A1520055.en.Retrieved19 November2021.
- ^abcdeFroese, Rainer;Pauly, Daniel (eds.)."Zebrasoma velifer".FishBase.June 2023 version.
- ^abEschmeyer, William N.;Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.)."Species in the genusZebrasoma".Catalog of Fishes.California Academy of Sciences.Retrieved13 October2023.
- ^Eschmeyer, William N.;Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.)."Genera in the family Acanthuridae".Catalog of Fishes.California Academy of Sciences.Retrieved13 October2023.
- ^"SpeciesZebrasoma desjardinii(Bennett, 1836) Indian Sailfin Tang ".Australian Faunal Directory.Retrieved11 October2023.
- ^Radu C. Guiasu and Richard Winterbottom (1993). "Osteological Evidence for the Phylogeny of Recent Genera of Surgeonfishes (Percomorpha, Acanthuridae)".Copeia.1993(2): 300–312.doi:10.2307/1447130.JSTOR1447130.
- ^J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016).Fishes of the World(5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 497–502.ISBN978-1-118-34233-6.
- ^Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (12 January 2021)."Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 2): Families EPHIPPIDAE, LEIOGNATHIDAE, SCATOPHAGIDAE, ANTIGONIIDAE, SIGANIDAE, CAPROIDAE, LUVARIDAE, ZANCLIDAE and ACANTHURIDAE".The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database.Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara.Retrieved13 October2023.
- ^ab"Sailfin Tang".Animal World. 10 September 2023.Retrieved13 October2023.
- ^abBray, D.J. (2019)."Zebrasoma veliferum".Fishes of Australia.Museums Victoria.Retrieved13 October2023.
- ^Community, Aquatic."Appearance".
External links
[edit]
- Photos ofSailfin tangon Sealife Collection
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