Chocolate Mimic Tang (Acanthurus pyroferus)

Acanthurus pyroferus runs one of the better disguises in the reef — as a juvenile it copies the color pattern of a local pygmy angelfish almost exactly, a textbook case of Batesian mimicry that likely buys it protection from predators wary of the angelfish's defensive spine. The disguise fades with age, revealing the deep chocolate-brown adult coloring the common name is actually based on.

Care level: Moderate · Temperament: Semi-aggressive · Max size: ~10" · Min tank: 125+ gal · Diet: Herbivore, algae + herbivore pellets