Lined Bristletooth, Ctenochaetus striatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)

Scientific name: Ctenochaetus striatus
Alternative name/s:
Fine-lined Bristletooth, Striated Surgeonfish, Striped Bristletooth
Lined Bristletooth, <i>Ctenochaetus striatus</i> Click to enlarge image
A Lined Bristletooth, Ctenochaetus striatus, at a depth of 15m, Raine Island, Queensland, 28 November 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Ctenochaetus
    Species
    striatus
    Family
    Acanthuridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The Lined Bristletooth grows to 26 cm in length.

Introduction

The Lined Bristletooth is brown with fine blue lines on the body, dorsal and anal fins. There are orange-yellow dots surrounding the eye and on the nape.

Identification

The Lined Bristletooth is brown with fine blue lines on the body, dorsal and anal fins . There are orange-yellow dots surrounding the eye and on the nape. The genus name Ctenochaetus comes from the Greek words cteno (comb) and chaeto (hair or bristles) and refers to the teeth.

<i>Ctenochaetus striatus</i> teeth
Teeth of a Lined Bristletooth caught at a depth of 5m, Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands, June 2000 (AMS I.40160-005). Image: Mark McGrouther
© Australian Museum

Distribution

It occurs in marine tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is known from the offshore islands of north-western Australia and from the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Kuiter, R.H & H. Debelius. 2001. Surgeonfishes, Rabbitfishes and their relatives. A Comprehensive Guide to Acanthuroidei. TMC Publishing. Pp. 208.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
  5. Randall, J.E. 2001. Surgeonfishes of Hawai'I and the World. Mutual. Pp. 123.