Elongate surgeonfish (Acanthurus mata)

Scientific name: Acanthurus mata Cuvier, 1829

The Elongate surgeonfish (Acanthurus mata) is a marine fish of the family Acanthuridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 23–28°C (73–82°F).

Elongate surgeonfish care at a glance

Temperature: 23–28°C (73–82°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 23 - 24. Body brown; head banded; fins brown. Capable of changing color to pale bluish overall. Behind eye a yellow area and 2 yellow bands extending anterior from eye. A single, sharp, forward-pointing erectile spine which folds down into a horizontal groove on each side of the caudal peduncle; spine in white sheath. Gill rakers 13-15 in both anterior and posterior rows. Scales minute.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Acanthurus mata
Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 50.0
Depth range: 5–100 m (16–328 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 100 m, usually 5 - 45 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa and east to the Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Venomous
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.219; Tmax=23)