Dory from Finding Nemo is a regal blue tang , a real marine fish species also commonly called a blue tang or palette surgeonfish.

What kind of fish is Dory?

  • Dory is specifically a regal blue tang, a bright blue reef fish with yellow fins and a black “palette” pattern on its body.
  • In real life, this fish is known to aquarists as a blue tang or palette surgeonfish and lives in warm Indo-Pacific coral reefs.

A bit of extra context

  • In the movies, Dory is shown as a cheerful, forgetful companion, but her animated look is closely modeled on the real blue tang’s color and body shape.
  • The popularity of Dory made many people curious about owning this species, which in reality requires expert-level saltwater aquarium care and is not a beginner pet fish.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.