Ctenochaetus strigosus, the kole tang, spotted bristletooth, spotted surgeonfish, goldring bristletooth, goldring surgeonfish, yelloweye tang or yellow-eyed surgeonfish, is a species of marineray-finned fish belonging to familyAcanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is endemic to Hawaii.
Ctenochaetus strigosus has the specific namestrigosus, meaning "slender", probably an allusion to the many thin bristle-like teeth of this fish.[6]
Description
Ctenochaetus strigosus has its dorsal fin supported by 8 spines and between 25 and 28 soft rays while its anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 22 to 25 soft rays.[2] The body is laterally compressed and it has a small mouth. The overall color is purplish to brown with slender, longitudinal light blue lines and a yellow ring around the eyes.[7] This species has a maximum published standard length of 15 cm (5.9 in).[2]
Distribution and habitat
Ctenochaetus strigosus is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and to Johnston Atoll in the United States Minor Outlying Islands.[1] It is a benthopelagic species found at depths between 1 and 113 m (3 ft 3 in and 370 ft 9 in) over coral, rock and rubble where it lives singly and feeds by sifting food, such as diatoms and algae, detritus in its bristle-like teeth.[2]
Utilization
Ctenochaetus strigosus is a popular fish in the aquarium trade, it is one of the most heavily collected species in that trade in Hawaii. It is also an important species in recreational fisheries.[1]
^Bennett, E. T. (1828). "Observations on the fishes contained in the collection of the Zoological Society. On some fishes from the Sandwich Islands". Zoological Journal, London. 4 (13): 31–42.
