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Endless Ocean 2 Creatures
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Lined Surgeonfish →
The sailfin tang (Zebrasoma veliferum) is a small species of coral-reef fish found in Endless Ocean, Endless Ocean 2, and Endless Ocean Luminous.
They are named for their tall dorsal and anal fins, which are like sails on a ship. Young fish and adult fish look different - young fish are yellowish instead of the adult's grayish or whitish base. However, both stages have bold black stripes that run vertically across the body.
In-Game[]
Marine Encyclopedia[]
Endless Ocean[]
Description[]
"Sailfin Tangs have wide, elliptical bodies with extra-large dorsal and anal fins. Slightly drab, they are mostly white with the exception of vertical black lines that run the length of their bodies. These fish are commonly seen in Manoa Lai all year.
There is a movable spine at the base of the tail fin that is used to guard against predators. The coloration of juveniles is different from that of an adult, with young fish having more of a yellow tinge.
As is the case with many species, it's impossible to tell the age of these fish by looking. However, their bodies contain a calcified bit of hard tissue called an otolith. As the fish ages, these otoliths form rings, much like a tree trunk. By counting the rings, you can accurately determine the fish's age."
Endless Ocean 2[]
Description[]
"This fish is identified by its dark stripes and large, elongated fins. Sailfin tangs are actually transparent at birth, with their striped pattern not yet visible.
Young fish are yellowish and already sport the characteristic stripes."
Creature Log[]
Endless Ocean Luminous[]
Description[]
"This yellowish, long-finned tang lives in rocky areas and reefs. Members of this species have stripes from a young age. Though a juvenile will swim with its fins spread out, the adult only opens its fins to frighten other creatures. An herbivore, this fish likes to feed on algae and moss."
Location[]
Endless Ocean[]
Year-Round[]
- Everywhere on the main stage except near the Great Drop-off and in the southwest, where it is replaced by the Golden Spadefish. They can sometimes be near coral formations but also above sand patches, into more open water. A particularly thick concentration of them can be found in the middle of the map, from Rock Bluff to Mermaid Tunnel.
- In Secret Lake, during its Tanga Day event that lasts from the 1st to the 7th of June.
- In the Underwater Ruins of Mo'ia Atoll, a couple can be found swimming above a spherical stone on top of the Ruins at coordinates I-3, only during the day. A single specimen can be found under an archway in an exterior trench at the same coordinates, but this time only at night.
Endless Ocean 2[]
They can be found in Gatama Atoll at coordinates B-2, F-3, G-6, and G-7, as well as throughout the Spring Garden area.
In Deep Hole these are found in the Kelp Tunnel, as well as in areas surrounding the Hole itself. Juvenile individuals also appear under zoom-mode glows in this area.
Endless Ocean Luminous[]
These fish can be found in coral reef, rocky reef, and open sea areas, often swimming above coral formations.
ID Codes and Coordinates
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ID Codes
0010 5499 4024 7016
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Behavior[]
These fish swim about slowly in small groups. In the first two games, they respond well to being fed, and to being touched.
Gallery[]
.JPG "Sailfin Tang (juv).JPG (73 KB)")
_2.png "Sailfin Tang (EO1) 2.png (541 KB)")
Notes[]
Real-Life Information[]
- The first game makes note of a movable spine that the sailfin tang has at the base of its tail, which it uses for self-defense. This spine is there in real life, and is a characteristic shared by all members of the family Acanthuridae - commonly known as "surgeonfish" for this very reason[1][2]. The spines are either always out, or are able to be extended and retracted - in the sailfin tang's case, they are retractable[3].
- The first game also makes note of something present in the fish's body called an "otolith" that can be used to determine its age. This is an accurate account of how scientists look at otoliths[4]. There are three pairs of otoliths - also called "ear stones" - in every fish, consisting of one large pair and two small pairs[5]. They are made of alternating layers of protein and a substance called calcium carbonate, which are the materials that form the "rings" as the fish ages[6].
- Both in-game descriptions talk of the contrast between the adult and young forms of this fish, with young fish being noted to have (and being depicted as having) a yellow tinge. This much is accurate to real life[7]. The sailfin tang is also transparent at birth, because all surgeonfish are[1][2].
- The sailfin tang is a popular aquarium fish, notable for being curious and alert[10]. However, they should only be kept with peaceful fish, as their large fins make them an easy target for any tankmates that might want to nip at them[11]. They also require quite large tanks, as they can grow to be up to 1 foot 4 inches (40 centimeters) long[12][13]. Because they eat algae, they can be helpful in keeping an aquarist's tank neat[14][15].
- They can sometimes be standoffish towards other sailfin tangs or fish that look similar, but if the fish in question are introduced at the same time, this can mitigate some of that aggression[16].
- There is a close relative of the sailfin tang that it often gets confused with - the Red Sea sailfin, Zebrasoma desjardinii, which is found in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea[7][9]. The Red Sea sailfin has a more heavily-spotted pattern than the standard sailfin[17][18].
- The sailfin tang is also sometimes confused with the brown tang, Z. scopas[19].
- The Red Sea sailfin and brown tangs do not appear in either of the Endless Ocean games.
- To differentiate it from the other sailfin, the sailfin tang seen in-game (Z. verifelum) is sometimes called the Pacific sailfin tang, Eastern sailfin tang, or ringed tang[20][21][22].
- Some places cite Z. verifelum and Z. desjardinii as the same species[23]; however, they have been differentiated as two different species by various top marine biologists[10].
- The sailfin tang is also sometimes confused with the brown tang, Z. scopas[19].
- The scientific name given in-game is actually the wrong one; it is supposed to be Zebrasoma velifer, rather than veliferum[24][25]. However, this is a common mistake, and the scenario is sometimes stated to be the other way around[21].
- The specific name "velifer" comes from Latin, and roughly translates to "sail-carrier", in reference to their large fins[26].
[]
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 Animal Diversity Web (Family Acanthuridae)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Two Oceans Aquarium (Surgeonfish and Tangs)
- ↑ Encyclopaedia Britannica (Surgeonfish)
- ↑ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Otoliths)
- ↑ Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Otoliths)
- ↑ Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Otoliths)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Animal World Encyclopedia
- ↑ USGS
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Marine Life Photography
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Wet Web Media
- ↑ Saltcorner
- ↑ FishBase
- ↑ ReefApp
- ↑ Vivid Aquariums
- ↑ Blue Zoo Aquatics
- ↑ Cincinnati Coral
- ↑ That Pet Place
- ↑ FreshMarine
- ↑ Solitary Islands Underwater Research Group
- ↑ Animal Diversity Web
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Fishes of Australia
- ↑ Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
- ↑ Aquatic Community
- ↑ World Register of Marine Species
- ↑ FishBase
- ↑ Monaco Nature Encyclopedia