Yellow Tang

Yellow Tang - IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

This yellow tang was one of many yellow tang that I saw during our four hours of snorkeling

This photo was taken during a snorkeling trip with my wife in Kealakekua Bay on the big island of Hawai’i. This area is a marine life conservation district, which seeks to protect the sea life that lives here. Along the coast, you can find a memorial to Captain James Cook, who was one of the first Europeans to visit the islands of Hawai’i. The snorkeling here is wonderful because of the plethora of sea life in the pristine water. For most of the bay, the depth is less than 15 feet, and then it drops to over 50 feet by the exit of the bay.

Smooth Trunkfish

We were on a snorkeling trip with Fair Wind Cruises. They offer a great morning snorkel that prioritizes visiting Kealakekua Bay. They will also stop at “Red Hill”, aka Pu’u Ohau depending on the weather. Each of these sites have coral reefs and plenty of fish. This yellow tang was one of many yellow tang that I saw during our four hours of snorkeling.

Yellow tang go by many names: lemon sailfin, yellow sailfin tang, and somber surgeonfish. Its scientific name is Zebrasoma flavescens. It belongs to the family Acanthuridae. This family includes surgeonfishes, unicornfishes, and tangs. The bright yellow color of this fish makes it easy to identify Necro to a maximum of 8 inches long and a thickness of less than an inch. At night their coloring changes slightly, and a brownish patch develops in the middle along with a horizontal white band. The male and female specimen of the yellow tang are visually similar. During mating the male will change color and have a shimmering effect. They have a white spine on its caudal peduncle, which they use for self-defense.

Atlantic Spadefish

The yellow tang reproduces throughout the year, with a peak spawning that happens around the time of the full moon. They will spawn in either pairs or groups, and the fertilization is external. The eggs are left in the open water, and they do not guard their eggs. The juveniles will receive no parental care. The larvae can drift for more than 100 miles.