Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes) > Acanthurinae
Etymology: Ctenochaetus: Greek, kteis, ktenos = comb + Greek, chaite = hair (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 18 m (Ref. 42056), usually 9 - 12 m (Ref. 42056). Tropical; 15°N - 25°S, 150°E - 78°W
Pacific Ocean: Marshall, Caroline, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Johnston, Marquesas; including Clipperton Atoll, Cocos and Gorgona islands. Society and Line Islands (Ref. 37792).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 27.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710); max. published weight: 410.75 g (Ref. 124696)
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26 - 29; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 24 - 26. Lower lip papillate posteriorly. Gill rakers on anterior row 26-29, on posterior row 34-37. Has brilliant blue spots covering the head, body, and pectoral fins and blue longitudinal pinstripes on the dorsal, anal and caudal fins (Ref 1602). Anterior dorsal soft rays longer than posterior (Ref 42056).
Inhabits shallow seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Small schools may also be found in relatively turbulent waters of the surge zone (Ref. 9267). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds on film algae (Ref. 89972).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E and K.D. Clements, 2001. Second revision of the surgeonfish genus Ctenochaetus (Perciformes: Acanthuridae), with descriptions of two new species. Indo-Pac. Fish. (32):33 p. (Ref. 42056)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25.5 - 29.4, mean 28.8 °C (based on 220 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5020 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02138 (0.01238 - 0.03691), b=2.94 (2.79 - 3.09), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (17 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 31.9 [19.2, 53.3] mg/100g; Iron = 0.234 [0.125, 0.576] mg/100g; Protein = 18.2 [16.9, 19.4] %; Omega3 = 0.111 [0.071, 0.180] g/100g; Selenium = 18.1 [10.4, 33.5] μg/100g; VitaminA = 43.8 [10.2, 171.2] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.375 [0.278, 1.286] mg/100g (wet weight);