Kole tang

This is our yellow-eyed Kole tang (or surgeon fish). The word Kole comes from Hawaii and is pronounced "coal-e". The tang is always hopping over the reef looking for and picking at algae for food. This is also why it has its characteristic mouth.

Just like the other surgeon fish, the Kole tang has a "scalpel" (a sharp spine) at the base of its tailfin which is used for protection and to establish dominance.

Our tang has developed a remarkable friendship with the little fella at the back of this shot (who is also featured here). The always keep an eye on each other and at night they always sleep together in the same cave in the reef. :)