Pixar's newest movie"Elemental" hit theaters this summer, bringing fire, air, earth and water to Pixar's 27th release since 1995.
Pixar, which includes favorites like "The Incredibles," "Cars" and "Ratatouille," has featuredcountless recognizable characters. One such iconic character is the small blue fish with a short memory,Dory from "Finding Nemo" and "Finding Dory."
If you have ever wondered what kind of fish Dory is, where in the ocean she lives and what food she eats, we have the answers for you.
What kind of fish is Dory?
Dory, the small blue fish with a bad memory from the "Finding Nemo" franchise, is a blue tang, or a Paracanthurus hepatus in scientific terms. Native to the Indo-Pacific and found in coral reefs, these fish weigh around onepound and are generally 10 to 12 inches long, according to National Geographic.
While these fish are typically found in the ocean, they can also be purchased at pet stores such as PetCo. When in captivity, blue tangs can live up to 20 years, according to National Geographic.
Like Dory in the movies, real life blue tangs are known for their vibrant blue and yellow colors. However, as these fish age, their coloring changes. Young blue tangs typically havebright yellow colors,while older fish showdeeper blues and "violets as a sign of stress," according to National Geographic.
Blue tangs are omnivores, meaning they can eat meat and plants. According to National Geographic, these fish eat plankton. They also usetheir sharp teeth to scrape and eat algae from coral reefs. The bulk of the blue tang's diet, however, comes from algae.
When did Disney buy Marvel?:Here's how much the media giant paid
Are blue tangsgoing extinct?
According to National Geographic, while blue tangs are listed as "least concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, they do face threats to their survival.
Experts believed approximately 250,000 "Dory" fishwere takenfrom the ocean each year, prior to 2016, becausethey were unable to be bred in captivity. Today, the species can be bred in captivity, helping to reduce exploitation of the "Dory fish," according to National Geographic.
A challenge blue tangs continue to face, however, is habitat loss due to coral bleaching and ocean acidification, according to National Geographic.
Animated movie box office hits:Top 10 highest-grossing movies listed
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "Why is yawning contagious?" to "Can cats drink milk?" to "How to make hummingbird food," we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.
