How related are they?
Same order, Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes, angelfishes and kin): relatives from different families
They split at the family level: the Yellow Tang belongs to Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes and tangs), the Foxface Rabbitfish to Siganidae (Rabbitfishes).
Find the Yellow Tang on the tree · Find the Foxface Rabbitfish on the tree
Family lines, side by side
Highlighted rows are groups both animals belong to. The marked row is where their lines go separate ways.
| Rank | Yellow Tang | Foxface Rabbitfish |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia Animals | |
| Phylum | Chordata Chordates | |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata Vertebrates | |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata jawed vertebrates | |
| Parvphylum | Osteichthyes bony fishes | |
| Gigaclass | Actinopterygii ray-finned fishes | |
| Superclass | Actinopteri | |
| Class | Teleostei Teleost fishes | |
| Order | Acanthuriformes Surgeonfishes, angelfishes and kin | |
| Family split | Acanthuridae Surgeonfishes and tangs | Siganidae Rabbitfishes |
| Genus | Zebrasoma Sailfin tangs | Siganus Rabbitfishes |
| Species | Zebrasoma flavescens Yellow Tang | Siganus vulpinus Foxface Rabbitfish |
Care, side by side
| Fact | Yellow Tang | Foxface Rabbitfish |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fish · Tang | Fish · Rabbitfish |
| Care level | Moderate | Easy |
| Reef safe | Yes | With caution |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Peaceful |
| Diet | Herbivore | Herbivore |
| Favorite foods | Dried marine seaweed sheets (nori, red, green and brown algae) on a clip, Spirulina and algae-based pellets and flakes, Frozen herbivore formulas | Dried marine algae sheets (nori and other seaweed) on a clip, Spirulina and algae-based flakes and pellets, Frozen herbivore formulas |
| Max size | 8 in (20 cm) | 9 in (22.9 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 125 gal | 125 gal |
| Temperature | 72–78 °F | 72–78 °F |
| Salinity (SG) | 1.020–1.025 | 1.020–1.025 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 | 8.1–8.4 |
| Nitrate | 0–30 ppm | 0–30 ppm |
| Lifespan | Very long-lived for an aquarium fish: wild yellow tangs in Hawaii have been aged at up to 41 years from growth rings in their ear stones (otoliths). With good care, aquarium specimens can live well over a decade, but solid published data on captive lifespan are limited. | Not well documented. Hobby sources commonly report about 5-10 years in aquariums with good care; no published age study was found. |
| Breeding | Very hard | Hard |
| Conservation (IUCN) | Least Concern | Least Concern |