Ctenochaetus strigosus, the kole tang, spotted bristletooth, spotted surgeonfish, goldring bristletooth, goldring surgeonfish, yelloweye tangoryellow-eyed surgeonfish, is a species of marineray-finned fish belonging to familyAcanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is endemictoHawaii.
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]
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]
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.
