Bristle Toothed Surgeonfish

This species is distinguished by the following characters: body deep and compressed, its depth 1.9-2.3 times in standard length or SL; mouth small, teeth numerous (> 30 in jaws of adults), movable, slender and elongate, with expanded incurved tips which are denticulate on the lateral margin (6 denticulations on upper and 4 on lower teeth); total gill rakers on first gill arch 27-36; a continuous unnotched dorsal fin with VIII,27-31; AIII,24-28; caudal fin lunate, concavity 3.7-6 times in SL; a lancet-like spine on caudal peduncle which folds into a deep horizontal groove; colour dark olive to yellowish brown with blue or blue-grey lengthwise lines on body and small orange spots on head and nape; dorsal and anal fins with about 5 lengthwise dark bluish bands; pectoral fins pale with brownish yellow rays; a small blackish spot at rear base of dorsal fin of juveniles and small adults (Ref. 9808).

In Tahiti, spawning starts near full moon with the formation of schools of several thousand fish at various depths. The fish remain almost motionless for between 1 to 3 hrs, then change their normal color to pale grey. About 4 or 5 fishes rise a few yards above main school and swim around each other discharging milt and eggs, then return to former place and replaced by another group to spawn.

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27 - 31; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 24 - 28

Inhabits reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of over 30 m. Occurs over coral, rock, pavement, or rubble substrates. May occur singly or in small to very large, often mixed-species aggregations (Ref. 48637). Feeds on surface film of blue-green algae and diatoms (making this species a key link in the ciguatera food chain) as well as on various small invertebrates. Detritus and sediment are main dietary components (Ref. 59111). Herbivorous (Ref. 43650). Estimates of assimilation efficiency indicate that C. striatus assimilates 20% of the total organic matter and 37% of the nitrogen from its sediment/detrital diet (Ref. 42770). Diurnal species (Ref. 113699:31; 120680:186,190); spawning takes place from morning to late afternoon and peaks in afternoon (Ref. 38697).During feeding, each bite is characterized by a wide gape as the mouth is applied to the substratum followed by a quick, upward flick of the lower jaw, with no sideways flick of the head (Ref. 59059). It appears that the numerous elongate flexible teeth, brush particulate and epiphytic materials from the surface of the turf algal strands and other substrata (Ref. 59059).

Inhabits reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of over 30 m. Occurs over coral (Ref. 58534), rock, pavement, or rubble substrates. May occur singly or in small to very large, often mixed-species aggregations (Ref. 48637). Feeds on surface film of blue-green algae and diatoms (making this species a key link in the ciguatera food chain) as well as on various small invertebrates.

fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

廣泛分布於印度-太平洋水域，西起紅海、非洲東部，東至土木土群島，北至日本，南至澳洲大堡礁及拉帕。台灣目前除西部海域外，其餘各地海域及離島礁岸均有記錄。

一般以流刺網、延繩釣或潛水鏢魚法等捕獲。觀賞及食用兼具。剝皮後，煮薑絲湯，肉質鮮美。尾柄上骨質盾板非常銳利，易傷人，處理時需小心。因食物鰱之關係，可能具熱帶海魚毒。

體呈橢圓形而側扁；尾柄部有一尖銳而尖頭向前之矢狀棘。頭小，頭背部輪廓不特別凸出。口小，端位，上下頜各具刷毛狀細長齒，齒可活動，齒端膨大呈扁平狀。背鰭及臀鰭硬棘尖銳，分別具VIII棘及III棘，各鰭條皆不延長；胸鰭近三角形；尾鰭內凹。體被細櫛鱗，沿背鰭及臀鰭基底有密集小鱗。體呈暗褐色，體側有許多藍色波狀縱線，背鰭、臀鰭鰭膜約有5條縱線，頭部及頸部則散佈橙黃色小點；眼之前下方有丫字形之白色斑紋。成魚背鰭或臀鰭之後端基部均無黑點，幼魚之背鰭後端基部則有黑點。

棲息於珊瑚礁區或岩岸礁海域，棲息深度在30公尺以內，常與同種或不同種魚類共游。一般以藍綠藻或矽藻等藻類或浮游生物等為食物。

The striated surgeonfish, Ctenochaetus striatus, is a species of marine fish in the family Acanthuridae.

The striated surgeonfish can reach a maximum size of 24 cm in length, but its common size is observed to be around 18 cm.

The striated surgeonfish is one of the few herbivorous fishes which are occasionally toxic. Ciguatera poisoning is caused by the accumulation of a toxin produced by certain microscopic dinoflagellates which it ingests while feeding on algae. If a contaminated fish is eaten by humans, the concentrated poison contained within its tissues causes neurological damage that can be fatal.

It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

When compared to other coral-fish larvae, the striated surgeonfish uniquely exhibits a non-selective attraction to noisy areas, where others are repelled or are selectively attracted to specific sounds.

Inhabits reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of over 30 m. Occurs over coral, rock, pavement, or rubble substrates. May occur singly or in small to very large, often mixed-species aggregations. Feeds on surface film of bluegreen algae and diatoms (making this species a key link in the ciguatera food chain) as well as on various small invertebrates. Often caught by spearfishing.