Zebrasoma rostratum was first formally described as Acanthurus rostratus in 1875 by the German-born British ichthyologist Albert Günther with its type locality given as the Society Islands in French Polynesia.

[4] 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.

[2]%[7] The body is laterally compressed,[8] its depth fitting into its standard length around twice, and a protruding, relatively long snout.

It ranges from Tuvalu east to Pitcairn including all of French Polynesia, north to the Line Islands and south to Rapa Iti.

The lack of information on the impact on the population of collecting for the aquarium trade and On this fish’s biology has led the IUCN to assess its status and data deficient.