{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "blue-tang",
  "name": "Blue Tang",
  "scientificName": "Paracanthurus hepatus",
  "category": "Fish",
  "summary": "The blue tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) is a vivid royal-blue reef fish with black markings and a bright yellow tail, best known as the character Dory from Finding Nemo. It lives on coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific, where it grazes mainly on algae. Growing to about 30 cm long and weighing up to 0.6 kg, it is a fast, agile swimmer that darts among coral for shelter. Blue tangs can live up to around 20 years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Actinopterygii",
    "order": "Acanthuriformes",
    "family": "Acanthuridae",
    "genus": "Paracanthurus"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.6,
    "lengthM": 0.3,
    "topSpeedKmh": 10,
    "lifespanYears": 20
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Paracanthurus hepatus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Omnivore (mostly algae)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Indo-Pacific coral reefs"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Up to about 20 years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "Up to about 30 cm (12 in)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Fast, agile reef swimmer"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Japan and the Great Barrier Reef.",
    "continents": [
      "Oceans"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Paracanthurus hepatus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Paracanthurus%20hepatus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Paracanthurus hepatus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Paracanthurus_hepatus/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Blue Tang.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracanthurus"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/blue-tang/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/blue-tang/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}