What type of fish is Dory in Finding Nemo?

In Finding Nemo, Dory is a Pacific regal blue tang.

Her species is scientifically known as Paracanthurus hepatus, a brightly colored surgeonfish native to the tropical Indo-Pacific. The fish is also called a regal tang, palette surgeonfish, royal blue tang, hippo tang, or blue surgeonfish. “Pacific regal blue tang” is therefore a precise common-name answer, while “blue tang” is the shorter description used in the film’s character information.

Dory’s vivid blue body, black markings, and yellow tail help distinguish her from clownfish such as Nemo. She is voiced by Ellen DeGeneres and first appeared in Pixar’s Finding Nemo in 2003. Her short-term memory loss is a central part of her character, but the real fish itself does not share that fictional personality trait.

The film’s popularity increased public interest in blue tangs and contributed to greater demand for them in the aquarium trade. Unlike clownfish, which have become widely captive-bred, blue tangs were historically collected largely from the wild. Marine biologists later developed successful captive-breeding methods, helping reduce pressure on wild populations.