Black-spot Tang

Acanthurus bariene

Range

• Indo-West Pacific Oceans

Habitat

• Deep coastal reef slopes and outer reef walls

Diet

• Marine algae
• Plants

As the black-spot tang ages, it becomes more and more colorful.

This species forms large groups called schools that graze on algae in the deep waters around coral reefs.  Fish in this genus are often called “surgeon fish” because of two scalpel-like barbs at the base of their tails. When provoked, a tang will quickly flick its tail and use these sharp spines to defend itself.