Yellowmask Surgeonfish

Acanthurus mata is a marine tropical fish belonging to the family of the Acanthuridae or surgeonfishes.

Description

It is a medium size fish that can reach a maximum size of 50 centimetres (20 in) length. The body has an oval shape and is compressed laterally. Like other surgeonfishes, Acanthurus mata swims with its pectoral fins. The caudal fin has a crescent shape. The mouth is small and pointed. Its body is streaked with horizontal bluish lines on a brown background color although over time it is able to change colour to become grey-blue overall. A longitudinal yellow stripe runs across the eye and splits in two lines extending anterior the eye. The superior lip is also yellow. The dorsal and anal fin are bluish with a yellow reflection, the base of latters is underlined by a fine black line. The slit of erectile scalpel is darker. Its erectile spine, sharp as surgeon's scalpel, located at the base of the tail is a dread defensive weapon.

Distribution

This fish has a wide distribution in tropical waters going from the west part of the Indian Ocean to the archipelagos in the middle of Pacific Ocean, so it's widespread all over the Indo-Pacific.

Habitat

Acanthurus mata inhabits usually steep slopes around coral reefs in depth range from 5 to 45 m.

Feeding

Elongate surgeonfish is a planktivore with a preference for the zooplankton.

Behaviour

Acanthurus mata has a diurnal activity.It is solitary when resting on the reef but may form small aggregation in the open water during feeding.