Mata Tang

TAXONOMY

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)

Family: Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes)

 

Genus/species: Acanthurus mata

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Oval, compressed,pale to dark bluish body with numerous dark to blue horizontal lines. A longitudinal yellow stripe runs across the eye and splits in two lines extending anterior the eye. Yellow dorsal fin, upper lip and band across eyes. The caudal fin has a crescent shape.

 

Length up to 50 cm (20 inches)

 

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Red Sea and East Africa to French Polynesia; southwest to Japan, Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia. Frequently inshore in turbid water, as well as outer reefs in depths 5–100 m. (16.5-330 ft). Usually in groups of conspecifics.

 

DIET IN THE WILD: Group grazer upon plankton.

 

REPRODUCTION: Form resident spawning aggregations mid-water.

 

CONSERVATION: IUCN, Least concern

 

REMARKS: Marketed as a food fish.

 

A distinguishing feature of surgeonfishes, tangs, and

unicornfishes is a modified scale on the caudal peduncle, which forms a scalpel-like sharp blade often covered with toxic slime. These spines are used for species recognition, defense, and competition for mates. Note: Acanthus means “thorn” or “spine”.

 

References

 

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016

 

Ron's flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3201527871/in/set-72157...

 

Ron's Wordpress Shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-1be

 

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/speciessummary.php?genusname=Aca...

 

EOL eol.org/pages/206880/details

 

IUCN www.iucnredlist.org/details/177967/0

 

January 15, 2009, 1-4-14

Done