Species Type:
Fishes
Common Name(s):
Atlantic blue tang
Size:
The Atlantic blue tang grows to be 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) in length.
Diet:
These fish graze on algae, keeping coral reef communities clean and healthy.
Range & Habitat:
Atlantic blue tangs stick around coral reef habitats, rocky and grassy coastal areas in the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
Details:
Atlantic blue tangs are entirely light blue in color and disc-shaped. They have a spine at the base of their tails used to fend off predators. Young Atlantic blue tangs are bright yellow in color despite their name. They graze on algae, preventing it from overtaking coral reefs.