Species: Zebrasoma xanthurum, Yellowtail sailfin-tang

Zebrasoma xanthurum  (Blyth, 1852)

Yellowtail sailfin-tang

Body a strongly compressed disc; body depth of adults 54-59% SL; head profile steep; eye high on side of head; snout strongly extended; top  and bottom snout profiles concave; mouth small, protrusible;  teeth are toothed spatulas, up to 20 top and 22 bottom teeth; dorsal fin IV, 24-25; A III, 19-20, dorsal and anal fins extremely elevated, longest D ray ~28% SL; pectoral 15; pelvic fin I, 5; tail fin straight edge; adult with a patch of brush-like setae on rear side of body; a single depressible spine fits into a groove on the side of the tail base; scales very small, rough; lateral line complete.

Head, body and dorsal, anal and pelvic fins dark blue; head with dense grey dots; tail fin bright yellow; pectorals blue, rear ¼ yellow. Juvenile: dark blue, body with fine grey stripes, head with dense grey dots; dorsal and anal fins with grey rays; tail fin yellow.

Reaches 22 cm.

Coral reefs and rocky bottoms

Depth range 1-61 m.

Red Sea & Arabian Gulf; introduced to southeast Florida