Striated surgeonfish
Ctenochaetus striatus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Striated surgeonfish
- Scientific
- Ctenochaetus striatus
- Dhivehi
- ރޮނގުދެމި ކާޅުRongu dhemi kaalhu
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 26 cm (total length); commonly 18 cm; max. published weight 4370 g (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 26 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 60 m (usually 6 to 30 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2010
Description
A dark brown bristletooth surgeonfish with many fine blue lines along the body, small orange dots on the head and dark blue bands on the fins. It is one of the most abundant reef fish, combing detritus and microscopic algae off rock and rubble. Because it ingests the algae that produce ciguatera toxin, it is a key link in that food chain.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name rongu dhemi kaalhu (MRS 1997). MRS calls it one of the commonest Maldivian reef fishes, easy to overlook because of its dull colour.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Ctenochaetus-striatus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ރޮނގުދެމި_ކާޅު
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Cirujano_estriado_(Ctenochaetus_striatus),_parque_nacional_
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Rongu dhemi kaalhu' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ރޮނގުދެމި ކާޅު' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FLAG: the source states no traditional name was recorded and this descriptive name was coined for the book; it is not an established fishermen's name.