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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Twotone tang

Zebrasoma scopas Cuvier, 1829
Brushtail Tang (Zebrasoma scopas)
Brushtail Tang (Zebrasoma scopas)
Max Length
40 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
33 yrs
Trophic Level
2
Depth
0–60 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
66.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Adults occur in coral-rich areas of lagoon and seaward reefs. They graze on algae, usually in groups of 20 individuals . Adults usually in small groups and sometimes schooling. Juveniles solitary and usually among corals . Their numerous, small pharyngeal teeth may have evolved in response to a shift in diet from macroalgae to filamentous algae . Mature individuals form resident spawning aggregations . Monogamous . Group and pair spawning have been observed. The flesh is never poisonous . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Scientific Name
Zebrasoma scopas
Authority
Cuvier, 1829
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
40 cm
Lifespan
33 years
Depth Range
0–60 m
Latitude
34°S – 31°N
Trophic Level
2
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
66.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Water Temp
25–28 °C
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 4 - 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23 - 25; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 19 - 21. Dark brown (body in life with fine pale blue-green longitudinal lines following scale rows, becoming dots anteriorly on body and on head) (Ref 9808). Small juveniles have yellowish bars and more prominent yellow specks than adults. : short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Twotone tang is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

algae
aquatic plants
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

Form resident spawning aggregations . Monogamous mating is observed as both facultative and social .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range 0 - 60 m , usually 1 - 60 m . Tropical; 25°C - 28°C ; 31°N - 34°S, 32°E - 124°W East Africa, including the Mascarene Islands (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
2
🐠 Schooling 🧍 Solitary

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.02399 × L2.98 (TL)
Max TL
40cm
Dorsal Spines
5
Dorsal Rays
24
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
20

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
25–28°C
Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2010

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Very low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
66.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
2
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
31°N – 34°S
Described By
Cuvier, 1829

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Twotone tang is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 17.8 g
Omega-3 (total) 126 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Twotone tang has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Blue-lined Tang · Bluelined Sailfin Tang · Brown Sailfin Surgeonfish · Brown Sailfin Tang · Brown Tang · Brown sailfish surgeonfish · Brown sailing tang · Brushtail Surgeonfish, Twotone tang · Brushtail Tang · Scopas Tang · Sombre Surgeon-fish · Two-tone Surgeon · Two-tone Surgeonfish · Yellow sailfin tang · twotone tang
🌍AFR Tweekleurtang
🏳️Catalan Peix cirurgià coral·lí
🌍CES bodlok hnědý
🇩🇰Danish Røgfarvet Kirurgfisk
🇩🇪German Brauner Segeldoktorfish · Brauner Segelflossen-Doktor · Weißdorn-Segelflossendoktor
🌍DIV Dhunfaiy mas
🌍EST Pruun sebrasoom
🇫🇮Finnish Ruskovälskäri
🇫🇷French Chirurgien Brun · Chirurgien balai · Chirurgien balai, Chirurgien à robe sombre · Chirurgien voile brune · Chirurgien à Brosses · Chirurgien à Robe Sombre · Chirurgien à balai · Chirurgien-voile brun
🌍IND Burung laut
🇮🇹Italian Pesce chirurgo marrone
🇯🇵Japanese Gomahagi · ゴマハギ
🌍LIT Baltadyglė chirurgžuvė
🌍MSA Debam · Debam perang · Debam-layar perang · Dengkis
🇵🇹Portuguese Canivete Bicolor · Cirurgião-marrom
🇪🇸Spanish Pez Cirujano Café
🌍TAH peretiti
🌍THA ปลาขี้ตังเบ็ดดำ
🌍VIE Cà Đuôi gai nâu hong
🇨🇳Chinese 小高鰭刺尾鯛

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Acanthurus altivelis Valenciennes 1835 Synonym
Acanthurus ruppelii Bennett 1836 Synonym
Acanthurus scopas Cuvier 1829 Synonym
Acanthurus suillus Cuvier 1829 Synonym
Zebrasoma scopes Cuvier 1829 Synonym
Zebrasoma scopoas Cuvier 1829 Synonym
Zebrasoma supraalba Fowler 1946 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 22 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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