The brown tang is found throughout Oceania and is a herbivorous fish, feeding predominantly on filamentous algae.

[5] 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.

[7] Zebrasoma scopas is a laterally compressed, deep bodied fish with a protruding snout which grows to a maximum published standard length of 40 centimetres (16 in).

The head is whitish and the body pale brown shading to a dark brownish-black near the black tail.

[8][3] Zebrasoma scopas is found in the Indo-Pacific region, living at water depths of up to 60 metres (200 ft).

The fish rush up to the surface to spawn, fertilisation is external and the eggs are scattered in the water column.

They will accept various food including meaty materials but the main part of the diet should be vegetable.