Yellowmask Surgeonfish

Acanthurus mata

The yellowmask surgeonfish (Acanthurus mata), also known as the elongate surgeonfish, is a species of surgeonfish in the family Acanthuridae. Adults reach up to 50 cm with an elongated body displaying olive-brown coloration with fine blue horizontal lines across the body and a distinctive bright yellow to orange band across the face and around the eye. This species inhabits steep outer reef slopes and channels at depths of 5-100 meters across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific. Yellowmask surgeonfish are planktivorous, feeding on zooplankton in the water column above the reef, often in large loose aggregations. They are typically found in deeper water than most surgeonfish species, making them more commonly encountered by experienced divers comfortable at greater depths. Their elegant proportions, distinctive facial marking, and schooling behavior make them a rewarding sighting.