The Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) is a small species of tang found only in Endless Ocean 2.
Like its name suggests, its body is a lovely purple color, with yellow fins that provide a pleasing contrast with its base. As a member of the surgeonfish family, it has a sharp spine on each side of the base of its tail fin that it uses for defense.
In-Game[]
Marine Encyclopedia[]
Endless Ocean 2[]
Description[]
"This fish has simple but striking coloration, deep purple with yellow pectoral and tail fins. It lives in the Red Sea and around East Africa, and can be the highlight of a trip for visiting divers."
Location[]
Endless Ocean 2[]
These small fish can be found in large groups in the Cavern of the Gods inside of the Altar of Nephthys, at coordinates C-3, and the Altar of Osiris, at coordinates C-2.
A group of five purple tang also makes an appearance in the Private Reef, if the player places down the decoration called "Anemone B".
Behavior[]
These swim around in large, loose groups, and respond positively to being fed. They do not move in unison, and are not easily startled.
Gallery[]
Notes[]
Real-Life Information[]
- The vivid coloration of this fish, as described by its in-game information, has earned it a number of other monikers, including yellowtail tang, yellowtail surgeonfish, dusky sailfin tang, and Red Sea sailfin[1][2][3].
- The lattermost of these is another corroboration for the in-game description - purple tangs are indeed found mostly around the Red Sea and around East Africa, and the Red Sea is where they were first made note of by the scientific community[4][5]. However, they also inhabit the waters of the Persian Gulf, and humans have brought them to Florida[6][7].
- While this fish is called the yellowtail surgeonfish on occasion, it should not be confused for another fish that often goes by the same name - Prionurus punctatus, which appears in Endless Ocean 2.
- The purple tang is popular in the aquarium trade for its remarkable coloration and hardiness[1][8]. However, it is not as easy to find, and tends to be more expensive[2][9]. If not introduced properly to a tank, or if in a tank where they feel crowded or threatened, they readily become aggressive[10][11]. This can be quite dangerous for the other fish - purple tangs, like all members of the surgeonfish family (Acanthuridae), are equipped with a sharp spine (called a "knife" or "scalpel") on their tail joint that they can use in fights[8][12].
- While rare, use of these spines on humans is not unheard of[13].
- The fact that they are not common targets for the aquarium trade contributes to their numbers being classified as "least concern" by to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature[14]. This means that they are not at risk for going extinct anytime soon.
- The purple tang is a member of the genus Zebrasoma, of which there are only seven members total[15][16]. The name "Zebrasoma" comes from the word "zebra", as in the striped horse, and the Greek word "soma", which means body[17]; this is in reference to the fact that most members of the genus have at least some manner of stripe marking[18].
- There are only two other members of this genus that appear in either Endless Ocean game - the yellow tang, Zebrasoma flavescens, and the sailfin tang, Zebrasoma veliferum.
[]
Oriental Butterflyfish
• Teardrop Butterflyfish
• Pyramid Butterflyfish
• Speckled Butterflyfish
Purple Tang
• Bluecheek Butterflyfish
• Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
• Moorish Idol
• King Angelfish
Flame Angelfish
• Emperor Angelfish
• Yellowband Angelfish
• Lined Surgeonfish
• Powder Blue Tang
Yellowtail Surgeonfish
• Whitemargin Unicornfish
• Orange-Lined Triggerfish
Clown Triggerfish
• Sailfin Tang
• Golden Spadefish
• Yellow Tang
• Blue Tang
Orangespine Unicornfish
• Purple Queen
• Swallowtail Sea Perch
• Crescent Tail Bigeye
Samurai Squirrelfish
• Miniata Grouper
• European Parrotfish
• Multicolorfin Rainbowfish
• Razorfish
Cleaner Wrasse
• Clown Wrasse
• Porcupinefish
• Blackspotted Pufferfish
• Pineconefish
Bicolor Parrotfish
• Bower's Parrotfish
• Ornate Wrasse
• Luna Lionfish
• Bigeye Trevally
• Blackfin Barracuda
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Blue Zoo Aquatics
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Animal World Encyclopedia
- ↑ Saltwater Fish
- ↑ Reefkeeping
- ↑ Corals Fish and Beyond
- ↑ Milwaukee Aquatics
- ↑ Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Wet Web Media
- ↑ Pieces of the Ocean
- ↑ ReefApp
- ↑ Reefbuilders
- ↑ Animal Diversity Web (Family Acanthuridae)
- ↑ eMedicineHealth
- ↑ IUCN Red List
- ↑ World Register of Marine Species (Genus Zebrasoma)
- ↑ Animal Diversity Web (Genus Zebrasoma)
- ↑ FishBase
- ↑ FishBase (Genus Zebrasoma)