Species profile
Atlantic Blue Tang
Acanthurus coeruleus
Identify Atlantic Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
At a glance
Atlantic Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 503 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and North Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Juveniles are bright yellow; they gradually transition through a yellow-and-blue phase before becoming fully blue.
- Grows to about 35 cm (14 inches) and is one of the Caribbean's most abundant reef fish.
- The scalpel spine at the tail base is yellow, contrasting sharply with its blue body.
- Plays a vital role in keeping algae cropped back on Caribbean coral reefs.
- Found from New York south to Brazil, with densest populations on Caribbean reefs.
Where Atlantic Blue Tang are seen
Background
Acanthurus coeruleus is a surgeonfish found commonly in the Atlantic Ocean. It can grow up to 39 centimetres (15 in) long. Common names include Atlantic blue tang, blue barber, blue doctor, blue doctorfish, blue tang, blue tang surgeonfish, yellow barber, and yellow doctorfish.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic Blue Tang article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is Atlantic Blue Tang?
Atlantic Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
What is the scientific name for Atlantic Blue Tang?
Atlantic Blue Tang is Acanthurus coeruleus.
Are there fishing rules for Atlantic Blue Tang?
Atlantic Blue Tang does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Atlantic Blue Tang?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Atlantic Blue Tang along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.