Zebrasoma

Zebrasoma is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region.

Taxonomy

Zebrasoma was first proposed as a monotypic subgenus of Acanthurus in 1839 by the English zoologist William Swainson with Acanthurus velifer, which had been described by Marcus Elieser Bloch from India in 1795, as its only species. The seven species within the genus form a number of apparent clades. The striped clade is probably the most basal and includes Z. desjardinii and Z. velifer, these two often being regarded as conspecific. Z. gemmatum is regarded as being on a monospecific clade between the basal striped clade and the others. The remaining two higher clades are species pairs, one made up of Z. flavescens and Z. scopas, and the other of Z. rostratum and Z. xanthurum. The genera Zebrasoma and Paracanthurus make up the tribe Zebrasomini within the subfamily Acanthurinae in the family Acanthuridae, according to the 5th edition of Fishes of the World.

Etymology

Zebrasoma combines soma, meaning "body", with zebra, referring to zebra stripes on the body of the type species, Z. velifer.

Distribution

Zebrasoma tangs are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans including the Red Sea east to the Pitcairn Islands and Hawaii.

Description

Zebrasoma tangs have deep bodies and pointed snouts with high dorsal, supported by 4 or 5 spines and between 23 and 31 soft rays, and anal fins, supported by 3 spines and between 19 and 25 soft rays. The pectoral fins have between 14 and 17 fin rays while the pelvic fins have a single spine and 5 soft rays. The caudal fin is truncate.
The smallest species in the genus is the yellow tang with a maximum published total length of while the largest species are Z. scopas, Z. desjardinii, and Z. velifer, each with a maximum published standard length of.

Species

Zebrasoma currently has seven recognised species classified within it:

Image	Species	Common name
	Zebrasoma desjardinii	Desjardin's sailfin tang
	Zebrasoma flavescens	yellow tang
	Zebrasoma gemmatum	gem tang
	Zebrasoma rostratum	black tang
	Zebrasoma scopas	twotone tang
	Zebrasoma velifer	sailfin tang
	Zebrasoma xanthurum	purple tang

Utilisation

Zebrasoma tangs are regarded as desirable aquarium fish due to their adaptability, largely peaceful nature and feeding habits. All currently known members of this family have a viable tolerance to copper based medications, including ionic and chelated, and can be kept in systems that employ these anti-parasitic techniques.