[4] The sailfin tang and the Indian sailfin tang *Z, desjardinii are closely related, and have been regarded as conspecific in the past,[5] and form a species pair which is basal to the genus Zebrasoma.

[6] The genera Zebrasoma and Paracanthurus make up the tribe Zebrasomini within the subfamily Acanthurinae in the family Acanthuridae, according to the 5th edition of Fishes of the World.

The dorsal and anal fins are dark greyish to brown marked with paler bands.

The westernmost occurrence is around Christmas Island, in the eastern Indian Ocean, and the eastern coast of Indo-China and it extends eastwards into the Pacific as far as the Pitcairn Islands and Hawaii, north to Japan and south to Australia and Rapa Iti.

[10] The sailfin tang is benthopelagic and is found at depths down to 45 m (148 ft) on lagoon and seaward reefs.

The juveniles are solitary and occur on coral and rocky sheltered reefs, although they may sometimes be found in turbid areas.

They are diurnal and courtship and spawning take place in the early afternoon following an ebbing tide.