Coral Reef Facts: February 3, 2011-Atlantic Blue Tang

Coral Reef Fact:

Adult Blue tang © David Snyder

The Atlantic Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) has three color phases. In its juvenile phase, it is bright yellow, changing to a mixture of yellow and blue during adolescence.

Juvenile Atlantic Blue Tang (yellow) Adolescent (blue with yellow tailed ) Source: © Doug Perrine/Florida Museum of Natural History

Adult blue tangs are deep blue to purplish-blue with a yellow caudal spine. At night they will, also, display white vertical stripes. Learn more

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