Mata Tang

Acanthurus mata

Range

• Western Pacific & Indian Oceans

Habitat

• Ocean reefs

Diet

• Algae

Instead of its tail, pectoral fins do most of the work to propel this algae-eater around deep-water reefs.

This fish and others of its genus are called “surgeonfish”. Two erectile spines at the base of its tail, sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, are used in defense as the fish flicks its tail at predators or challengers. Young Mata tang are brown and become blue-grey as they age.