Dory – The Clownfish With an Impressive Memory

The delightful, friendly and forgetful Dory is one of Disney’s most beloved characters. But did you know she’s actually based on real-life creature? The lovable sidekick of 2003’s Finding Nemo is a type of a fish called a regal blue tang (Paracanthurus hepatus).

The Appearance of the Regal Blue Tang

The regal blue tang is a brightly colored, spiny-finned fish native to the warm, tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, they occasionally inhabit the Gulf of Mexico, occurring as far east as Hawaii and as far west as the Red Sea. The distinctive blue and yellow striped coloration makes these marine creatures fit for a kingdom. They’re diet primarily consists of seaweed, algae and crustaceans.

The average size of a regal blue tang is around 8-10 inches in length. They have sharp spines on the base of the caudal fin and around the eyes. As with most other fish, the males can be distinguished from female by their head shape (males are more sleeker) and size (males are generally larger than females).

Remarkably Impressive Memory

The regal blue tang is arguably best known for Dory’s forgetful traits. But like many of fishes in the wild, regal blue tangs actually possess a rather impressive memory. Researchers have demonstrated that these clever fish are capable of recognizing not only familiar faces but also learning how to complete complex tasks like locating a particular food type or swimming patterns.

Conclusion

In short, the regal blue tang is a fairy-tale looking fish with an impressive memory that can even learn complex tasks. Not only did the regal blue tang help bring the beloved Disney character, Dory, to life, but they reminded us once again that there is beauty and intelligence to be found, even in the most unlikely of places.