English Name: Spotted surgeonfish
Family: ACANTHURIDAE
Local Name: Thijjehi kaalhu
Order: Perciformes
Size: Max. 18.5 cm
Specimen: MRS/0097/87
Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 8 spines and 25-27 rays.. Anal fin with 3 spines and
22-25 rays. Pectoral rays 15-16. Body depth 1.7-2.0 in standard length. Teeth movable. Caudal fin slightly emarginate.
Colour: Dark brown with pale blue dots on head and body, the dots sometimesjoin to form irregular lines; eye rimmed with yellow. Juveniles bright yellow.
Habitat and Biology: Occurs on coral reefs to depths of 50 m. Found in large aggregations.
Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
Remarks: Ctenochaetus strigosus is very similar to C.striatus (previous page), but the two are easily distinguished in the field on the basis of tail shape. Colour and caudal fin shape varies with locality.