Ctenochaetus

Ctenochaetus is a genus of surgeonfish in the family Acanthuridae. They are commonly known as bristletooth surgeonfish or “tangs”, and are found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. Ctenochaetus are herbivores that graze on algae and are important for maintaining the health of coral reefs.

Striated surgeonfish – Ctenochaetus striatus

Characteristics

Ctenochaetus species are characterized by their flattened bodies, elongated snouts, and distinctive "scalpel"-like spines located on either side of their tails. These spines are used for defense and can inflict a painful cut if handled carelessly. The spines are located at the base of the caudal peduncle. Tangs can be bright and colorful, exhibiting a variety of shades, patterns, and stripes, making them popular in the aquarium trade.

Environment

Ctenochaetus surgeonfish are typically found in shallow, coral reef environments. They are often observed grazing on algae in clear water. They prefer areas with abundant algal growth and can be found in both sheltered and exposed reef habitats.

Species

There are currently 16 recognized species within the genus Ctenochaetus:

  • Ctenochaetus binotatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) - Yellow tang
  • Ctenochaetus calvus (Valenciennes, 1835)
  • Ctenochaetus ciliaris (Bennett, 1830) - Blue tang
  • Ctenochaetus cinctus (Cuvier, 1829) - Black tang
  • Ctenochaetus crenulatus (Valenciennes, 1835)
  • Ctenochaetus flavescens (Bennett, 1830) - Yellow-banded tang
  • Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis (Randall, 1955) - Hawaiian tang
  • Ctenochaetus heros (Jordan & Evermann, 1903) - Giant tang
  • Ctenochaetus lachrymosus (Bennett, 1830) - Tear-drop tang
  • Ctenochaetus marginatus (Cuvier, 1829) - Black-margin tang
  • Ctenochaetus niger (Bloch, 1786) - Black surgeonfish
  • Ctenochaetus striatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) - Striped tang
  • Ctenochaetus tominiensis (Randall & Pyle, 1995)
  • Ctenochaetus truncatus (Valenciennes, 1835) - Truncated tang
  • Ctenochaetus valentini (Bleeker, 1853) - Valentine's tang
  • Ctenochaetus strigosus (Bennett, 1830) - Striated tang

References

For further information on Ctenochaetus, refer to the following resources: