Elongate surgeonfish
📖 Overview
Adults inhabit steep slopes, often in turbid waters, generally in the vicinity of coral reefs or rocky bottoms. They form resident spawning aggregations . Adults often seen in schools, feeding mid-water on plankton . Feed on zooplankton. Marketed fresh. Flesh is almost never poisonous , but incidence of ciguatera poisoning was reported from Nauru I. . The retractile sharp blades of the caudal peduncle can be dangerous (https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/acanthurus-mata-2/?lang=en, ver. 12/2021)
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24 - 26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 23 - 24. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep and compressed, its depth 2.1-2.5 times in standard length or SL (smaller individuals are deeper-bodied); snout relatively short, 6-6.9 times in SL; eye 3.2-4.5 times in head length (at 12-28 cm SL); mouth small; teeth spatulate, close-set, with denticulate edges, and small for the genus; total gill rakers on first gill arch 13-15; continuous, unnotched dorsal fin IX,24-26; A III,23-24; caudal fin emarginate to lunate, concavity 6.5-9 times in SL (concavity is greater in larger individuals); caudal peduncle narrow, the least depth 10-12 times in SL with a lancet-like spine on each side which folds into a deep horizontal groove; stomach large, U-shaped, thin-walled with large, thorn-like papillae on inner surface; colour brown with longitudinal blue lines on head and body; a yellow area behind eye and 2 yellow bands extending anteriorly from eye; when alive, this fish is capable of changing its ground colour from dark brown to pale blue .: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 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.
🦐 Diet
Acanthurus mata is a planktivore with a preference for the zooplankton.
🥚 Reproduction
Form resident spawning aggregations .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 100 m , usually 5 - 45 m . Tropical; 23°C - 28°C ; 35°N - 35°S, 30°E - 137°W south to Natal, South Africa and east to the Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
🌿 Ecology
zooplankton
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Elongate surgeonfish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.3 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 107 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Elongate surgeonfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Bleeker's Surgeonfish · Elongate surgeonfish · Mata Surgeonfish · Pale Surgeon · Pale Surgeonfish · Striped Surgeonfish · White-tail Lancet · Yellowmask Surgeonfish · blue-lined surgeonfish · tailring surgeon |
| 🌍AFR | Lang doktervis |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Anfoos · Fardh · Faridh |
| 🏳️Catalan | Peix cirurgià blau ratllat |
| 🌍CES | bodlok žlutočelý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Aflang Kirurgfisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Grauer Doktorfisch |
| 🌍FIJ | Balagi · Balagi nawa · dridri |
| 🇫🇷French | Chirurgien · Chirurgien pâle · Chirurgien élancé · Chirurgien élancé, Poisson docteur à queue blanche · Chirurgien, Grand picot de récif, Picot kanak · Grand Picot de Récif · Picot Kanak · Poisson Docteur à Queue Blanche |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce chirurgo a strisce blu · Pesce chirurgo allungato · Pesce chirurgo blu · Pesce chirurgo maschera gialla · Pesce chirurgo rigato di blu |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Hiraniza · Osuji-kurohagi · ヒラニザ |
| 🌍MAH | Bekiru |
| 🌍MAL | പല · പാള · Pala |
| 🌍MSA | Buntana · Debam · Dengkis |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Cirurgião Comprido · Cirurgião de Bleeker · Cirurgião-alongado |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Pez Cirujano Alargado |
| 🌍SWA | Kangaja |
| 🌍TAH | Para'I · para'i oturi |
| 🌍TGL | Dabahita · Labahita · Samarel · Surahan |
| 🌍THA | ปลาขี้ตังเบ็ดหน้าเหลือง |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 後刺尾鯛 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acanthurus aurolineatus | Day | 1876 | Synonym |
| Acanthurus bleekeri | Günther | 1861 | Synonym |
| Acanthurus guentheri | Weber | 1913 | Synonym |
| Acanthurus weberi | Ahl | 1923 | Synonym |
| Chaetodon mata | Cuvier | 1829 | Synonym |
| Chaetodon meta | Cuvier | 1829 | Synonym |
| Harpurus gnophodes | Fowler | 1904 | Synonym |
| Hepatus weberi | Ahl | 1923 | Synonym |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Elongate surgeonfish.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 10 records indexed .
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