{{Short description|Genus of fishes}} {{Automatic_taxobox | image = Pacific Sailfin Tang, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, East Honolulu, HI, US imported from iNaturalist photo 29716930.jpg | image_caption = ''Zebrasoma velifer'' | taxon = Zebrasoma | authority = Swainson, 1839 | type_species = ''Acanthurus velifer'' | type_species_authority = Bloch, 1795<ref name = CofF>{{Cof family|family=Acanthuridae|access-date=10 October 2023}}</ref> | synonyms = {{Genus list | Laephichthys | Ogilby, 1916 | Scopas | Kner, 1865 }} | synonyms_ref = <ref name = CofF/> | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = 7, see text }}
'''''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.<ref name = CofF/><ref name = CofF2>{{Cof genus|genus=Zebrasoma|access-date=10 October 2023}}</ref> 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''.<ref name =" G&W">{{cite journal |author1=Radu C. Guiasu |author2=Richard Winterbottom |name-list-style=and |year=1993 |title=Osteological Evidence for the Phylogeny of Recent Genera of Surgeonfishes (Percomorpha, Acanthuridae) |journal=Copeia |volume=1993 |issue=2 |pages=300–312 |doi=10.2307/1447130|jstor=1447130 }}</ref> 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''.<ref name = Nelson5>{{cite book |title=Fishes of the World |edition=5th |author1=J. S. Nelson |author2=T. C. Grande |author3=M. V. H. Wilson |year=2016 |pages=497–502 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-34233-6}}</ref>
=== Etymology === ''Zebrasoma'' combines ''soma'', meaning "body", with zebra, referring to zebra stripes on the body of the type species, ''Z. velifer''.<ref name="ETYFish">{{cite web | url = https://etyfish.org/acanthuriformes2/ | title = Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 2): Families EPHIPPIDAE, LEIOGNATHIDAE, SCATOPHAGIDAE, ANTIGONIIDAE, SIGANIDAE, CAPROIDAE, LUVARIDAE, ZANCLIDAE and ACANTHURIDAE | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | editor1= Christopher Scharpf | editor2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp |date = 12 January 2021 | access-date = 10 October 2023 | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara}}</ref>
==Distribution== ''Zebrasoma'' tangs are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans including the Red Sea<ref name="WIOF">{{cite book |author=John E. Randall |url=https://saiab.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1._wiof_volume_5_text.pdf |title=Coastal Fishes of the Western Indian Ocean |publisher=South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-990951-32-9 |editor1=Phillip C Heemstra |volume=5 |pages=219–244 |chapter=Family Acanthuridae |access-date=2023-07-17 |editor2=Elaine Heemstra |editor3=David A Ebert |editor4=Wouter Holleman |editor5=John E Randall |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612092043/https://saiab.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1._wiof_volume_5_text.pdf |archive-date=2023-06-12 |url-status=live}}</ref> east to the Pitcairn Islands<ref name="Fishbase2">{{FishBase|Zebrasoma|rostratum|month=June|year=2023}}</ref> and Hawaii.<ref name="WWM">{{cite web |author=Bob Fenner |title=The Sailfin Tangs, Surgeons, Doctorfishes, of the Genus Zebrasoma |url=http://www.wetwebmedia.com/zebrasom.htm |access-date=10 October 2023 |website=WetWebMedia}}</ref>
==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.<ref name="WIOF" />
The smallest species in the genus is the yellow tang (''Z. flavescens'') with a maximum published total length of {{cvt|20|cm}} while the largest species are ''Z. scopas'', ''Z. desjardinii'', and ''Z. velifer'', each with a maximum published standard length of {{cvt|40|cm}}.<ref name="Fishbase" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Zebrasoma desjardinii summary page |url=https://fishbase.de/summary/Zebrasoma-desjardinii.html |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=FishBase |language=en}}</ref>
==Species== ''Zebrasoma'' currently has seven recognised species classified within it:<ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase genus | genus = Zebrasoma| month = June | year = 2023}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+ !Image !Species !Common name |- |frameless |''Zebrasoma desjardinii'' <small>(E. T. Bennett, 1836)</small> |Desjardin's sailfin tang |- |frameless |''Zebrasoma flavescens'' <small>(E. T. Bennett, 1828)</small> |yellow tang |- |frameless |''Zebrasoma gemmatum'' <small>(Valenciennes, 1835)</small> |gem tang |- |frameless |''Zebrasoma rostratum'' <small>(Günther, 1875)</small> |black tang |- |frameless |''Zebrasoma scopas'' <small>(G. Cuvier, 1829)</small> |twotone tang |- |frameless |''Zebrasoma velifer'' <small>(Bloch, 1795)</small> |sailfin tang |- |frameless |''Zebrasoma xanthurum'' <small>(Blyth, 1852)</small> |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.<ref name = WWM/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.wetwebmedia.com/zebrasom.htm Fishwatcher's Guide - ''Zebrasoma'']
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Category:Zebrasomini Category:Zebrasoma Category:Venomous fish Category:Marine fish genera Category:Taxa named by William Swainson