Species Type:
Fishes
Common Name(s):
Orange shoulder tang
Size:
Orange shoulder tangs grow to a maximum length of 14 inches (35 centimeters).
Diet:
These fish eat marine debris, fine algae covering rock and sand, and diatoms like plankton.
Range & Habitat:
In the Indian and Pacific Oceans, orange shoulder tangs inhabit seaward reefs, rocky and sandy areas, bays and lagoons.
Details:
Orange shoulder tangs are small, compressed oval-shaped fish. Their name comes from the large orange spot near their gills. Like many other tang species, they have sharp spines near their tail, which they use for protection from predators. These tangs are herbivores, feeding primarily on algae and helping to maintain the balance of the reef ecosystem.