Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Scientific Name: Acanthurus Mata
English Name: Elongate surgeonfish
Creole Name: Sirizyen navi/Makwer
French Name: Chirurgien élégant
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 24-26; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 23-24.
Body grey to brown with thin blue stripes continuing onto head. Double yellow band between eyes that continues behind eyes as a yellow patch to the edge of the operculum.
Peduncle spine with yellow socket. Caudal and anal fins exhibit yellowish-brown tinge.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown Max Length: 50cm TL
Habitat and Ecology:
Inhabit steep slopes on coral reefs or over rocky susbstrata (5-100m depth, usually 5-45m) often in turbid waters. Generally feeds above the bottom on zooplankton mid-water.
Juveniles feed on benthic algae. Forms large resident spawning aggregations.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery where it is a common and sometimes numerous component of the catch.
Notes:
References:
Abesamis, R. et al. (2012). Acanthurus mata. The IUCN Red List 2012: e.T177967A1505359. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T177967A1505359.en. (13/10/18).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Acanthurus-mata.html (13/10/18)
Nevill, J.E.G. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.
Randall, J.E. (2001). Surgeonfishes of Hawaii and the World. ISBN: 1-56647-561-9
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. & Mason-Parker, C. (2019). Acanthurus mata, Elongate surgeonfish. www.seatizens.sc https://seatizens.sc/species/acanthurus-mata-cuvier-1829/ (edited 12/06/22).