Is this (Zebrasoma veliferum) the same species as Z. desjardinii of the I.O., RS
Bob:
Looks like veliferum to me? Photo from the Pacific? 
<Yes, also off the dry side of the Big Island>
Z. desjardinii of the Indian Ocean is a valid species close to veliferum. 
<Ah, had read some accounts the latter was considered a junior synonym now...>
Different fin-ray counts as well as some color differences. Aloha, Jack
<Thank you for this Jack. Will add to the Zebrasoma FAQs on our www.WetWebMedia.com site. Bob Fenner><<Jack is Dr. John Randall, Bernice P. Bishop Museum. RMF>>

Re: Is this (Zebrasoma veliferum) the same species as Z. desjardinii of the I.O., RS
<Response to daily pic email out by Werner Schmettkamp, BSV in Germany, owners/publishers of the mag. das Aquarium and Sven and Alf's fab Modern Coral Reef Aquarium books....>
Dear Bob,
it is indeed Zebrasoma veliferum, cause of the unspotted yellow tail fin.
<Danke mein Herr. Be seeing you... this May at Interzoo. Bob Fenner>
Take care, Werner

Indian Ocean v. Red Sea Sailfin III 11/11/03
In Calfo and Fenner's new book Reef Invertebrates they list Z. veliferum as a potential bubble algae control creature;  did they mean to include all members thereof  (including the Pacific or Hawaiian Sailfin) or is the Desjardin Sailfin the one commonly believed in aquaristics to be the right candidate?
<as stated in the last e-mail, my friend... they are the same species (Desjardin/red sea Sailfin is simply a Z. veliferum) but anecdotally they are believed to be more inclined to rasp bubble algae:
<<it is possible that a race of fishes (same species...different locale) is evolved or predisposed to eating some prey items over another. There is a strong belief in aquaristics that this is the case with the Red Sea Sailfin>>
best regards, Anthony> <<Fishbase.org lists two species... RMF>>
 

Zebrasoma desjardinii or Zebrasoma veliferum 1-10-08 Hello crew, <Yunachin here> I am not sure if this tang (picture attached) is Zebrasoma desjardinii or Zebrasoma veliferum. When I purchased him it was sold as Zebrasoma desjardinii but I am leaning toward it being Zebrasoma veliferum. <I am going to say that if this is an adult specimen then it is in fact the Zebrasoma veliferum. The differences between the two species are the markings on the tail, where an adult desjardinii will have a spotted tail and an adult veliferum will have the yellow tail. If this is a juvenile you are going to have to wait it out to see if the colors change. Here is a link as well for some more info on the two : http://www.wetwebmedia.com/stripedzebrasomas.htm > Thanks much <You’re welcome, Yunachin> John Maggio

very nice