Family: Acanthuridae, Surgeonfishes view all from this family

Description A deep-bodied surgeonfish (body depth 1.7 in SL) with a conspicuous yellow caudal spine. Juveniles all yellow; adults range from gray to dark blue, with narrow gray longitudinal bands on body and on dorsal and anal fins. TL to 14” (36 cm).

Warning Members of this family have a sharp, scalpel-like spine and should be handled with care. The flesh of the Blue Tang is toxic if eaten.

Habitat Around coral reefs.

Range Bermuda, Atlantic coast (straying north to New York and south to Rio de Janeiro), Bahamas, and Caribbean; distribution in Gulf of Mexico uncertain.

Discussion The Blue Tang has the most distinctive coloration of all western Atlantic surgeonfishes. This fish has a thin-walled stomach, whereas the other surgeonfishes in our area have gizzard-like stomachs.