Species Type:
Fishes
Common Name(s):
Doctorfish tang
Size:
These fish grow to a maximum length of 14 inches (35 centimeters).
Diet:
Doctorfish graze on algae and organic material found in compacted sand and rocky bottom areas.
Range & Habitat:
In the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, doctorfish can be found in rocky bottom habitats and shallow coral reef communities.
Details:
Doctorfish have a flat, oval-shaped body with a grayish-blue or brownish coloration. Thin, darker vertical stripes run along their sides, and their dorsal and anal fins are edged in blue. Like other surgeonfish, they have sharp, scalpel-like spines near the base of their tail for defense.