| There are over 75 species of Surgeonfish worldwide and about two dozen species located in Hawaii. Only three species of surgeonfish make their home in the Tropical Western Atlantic or Caribbean waters: Blue Tang, Ocean Surgeonfish and Doctorfish. Surgeonfish are often called Tang. |
| Surgeonfish are thin-bodied, oval shaped fish with continuous dorsal and anal fins and a crescent-like tail. Members of this family are generally small to medium size, with a few adult species reaching about 15 inches in length. The Blue Tang has a powder blue to purple color with yellow or white spines. The juvenile phase is bright yellow color. It is a little harder to identify the similar-looking Ocean Surgeonfish and Doctorfish. The Doctorfish can be identified by the 10 to 12 body bars that are often quite faint. It is difficult to distinguish between these two species when they are in certain color phases. A sure way to identify the two species is to examine their pectoral fins. The leading edges of the pectoral fins of the Ocean Surgeonfish are clear as the ocean, while leading edges of the pectoral fins of the Doctorfish are as dark as a Doctor's black bag. |
| Surgeonfish get their common name from the razor sharp blades or spines located on both sides of their body near the base of the tail. These razor sharp spines resemble a surgeon's scalpel and are used as a defense against predators. Spines are formed by modified scales. The hinged spine fits in a groove and is attached to the spinal column by ligaments. When swimming calmly with pectoral fins and minor tail motion, the spines remain encased in a groove. When threatened, the surgeonfish strongly flex their tail, causing the spine to protrude. By swinging their tails, these fish can inflict deep, slicing wounds to their opponent. Unsuspecting fisherman have received deep wounds trying to remove these fish from their nets. While some surgeonfish are reported to carry toxins, Ned DeLoach reports that laboratory experiments using the spines of Ocean Surgeonfish to inflict wounds on various reef fishes proved negative. |
| Surgeonfish help to maintain balance of the coral reef ecosystem. Coral reefs need some algae for survival, but too much algae growth can smother a reef. Surgeonfish, parrotfish and damselfish help to maintain a healthy balance of the reef, by keeping algae in check through scraping of the coral surface during feeding. |
