Zebrasoma flavescens, better known as yellow surgeon, is one of the most colorful and popular fish among coral reefs. Its rich yellow color makes it easily recognizable even among a variety of reef inhabitants.
✔ Coloring that shines like the sun
✔ Unique "surgical scalpel" on the tail
✔ A tireless reef cleaner
✔ One of the most popular types for marine aquariums
Let's go deeper into the world of this amazing creature!
Scientific classification
✔ The Kingdom: Animals (Animalia)
✔ Type: Chordal (Chordata)
✔ Class: Lucheperi pisces (Actinopterygii)
✔ Row: Perch-like (Perciformes)
✔ Family: To the surgeon (Acanthuridae)
✔ Gender: Zebrasoma
✔ View: Zebrasoma flavescens (Bennett, 1828)
📌 Interesting!
Gender Zebrasoma it includes several types of surgical fish, but specifically Zebrasoma flavescens it is the most famous and most widespread in the Pacific region.
Appearance and anatomical features
🔹 Body shape:
✔ Disc-shaped, strongly flattened on the sides
✔ Large dorsal and anal fins that create the illusion of greater massiveness
🔹 Color scheme:
✔ Solid rich yellow color
✔ At night, the color changes: a white horizontal stripe appears, and the overall tone darkens
🔹 Sizes:
✔ Average length: 14-20 cm
✔ Maximum length: 25 cm
✔ Weight: about 200 g
🔹 Main Feature:
✔ At the base of the tail there is acute bone platewhich serves as a protective "blade" characteristic of all surgical fish.
📌 Interesting!
This "scalpel" is used for self-defense and can cause serious cuts even in humans!
Range and habitat
🌍 Where does the yellow surgeon live?
✅ Tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean
✅ It is most common around Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Japan, and the Philippines.
✅ It is found at depths from 2 to 50 meters
📌 Interesting!
Zebrasoma flavescens prefers coral reefs and lagoons, where algae grows – its main diet.
Lifestyle and behavior
🔹 Social behavior:
✔ Leads single or group lifestyle
Young individuals often keep together in groups, while adults can be territorial
🔹 Defense mechanisms:
✔ Vrazi danger raises the "scalpel" and sharply hits the tail
✔ Quickly changes direction using a maneuverable body
🔹 Life span:
✔ In nature - 5-7 years
✔ In captivity - up to 15 years
📌 Interesting!
Yellow surgeons are very fast swimmers, which helps them avoid predators such as moray eels and groupers.
Nutrition and role in nature
🥗 What does the yellow surgeon eat?
, Seaweed
✅ Plankton
✅ Sea sponges and small invertebrates
🔹 Environmental role:
✔ Important "orderly" of coral reefsafter all, it cleanses them of algae
✔ Helps keep the ecosystem balanced
📌 Interesting!
Some yellow surgeons specialize in eating certain types of algae, helping the corals avoid their demise.
Reproduction and development
🔹 Method of reproduction:
✔ Spawning takes place in open water
✔ The female throws out eggs, and the male simultaneously releases sperm
🔹 Development:
Larvae swim in the water column with plankton
✔ After a few weeks they turn yellow and settle on the reefs
📌 Interesting!
Surgeon fish larvae are translucent and almost invisible to predators, which increases their chances of survival.
The Yellow surgeon and the man
🔹 Popularity in aquariums:
✅ One of the most popular marine species for aquariums
✅ Needs volume from 200 liters
✅ Sensitive to high-quality filtration and stable water parameters
🔹 Industrial value:
✅ Caught for the aquarium trade
Редко Rarely used in food due to possible toxicity of meat
📌 Interesting!
Thanks to the cartoon “In search of Nemo, the demand for yellow surgeons has increased dramatically, even threatening their natural environment.
Species conservation and environmental threats
🔹 Population status:
, The number of employees remains stablealthough the catch for the aquarium trade may threaten local populations
🔹 Main threats:
What is the loss of coral reefs due to climate change?
Zabrudnennya ocean pollution
Supramir overfishing
🔹 Security measures:
✔ Protecting coral reefs
✔ Controlled catch for the aquarium industry
✔ Ban on fishing in protected areas
📌 Interesting!
In 2016, Hawaii banned commercial fishing for reef fish, including the yellow surgeon, to protect its natural habitat.
Conclusion
🐠 Zebrasoma flavescens is not only one of the most beautiful coral reef fish, but also an important species for the ocean ecosystem.
💡 What do you think of the yellow surgeon? Would you like to have it in your aquarium? 🧐✨
