Ctenochaetus tominiensis Randall, 1955
Tomini surgeonfish
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes, tangs, unicornfishes), subfamily: Acanthurinae
Max. size:  16 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 45 m,
Distribution:  Western Central Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, northern Great Barrier Reef, Solomon Islands, Palau, Vanuatu and Fiji. Recently recorded from Tonga (Ref. 53797).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-25; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 22-23. Margins of lips papillate. Only species of Ctenochaetus with angular dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin of juveniles forked, of adults lunate. Gill rakers on anterior row 20-21, on posterior row 20. Outer soft portion of dorsal and anal fins orange (pale in preservative). Caudal fin white. Edge of lips crenulate. Upper teeth with 2 or 3 denticulations (not including tip). Anterior gill rakers 19-23 (Ref 42056).
Biology:  Occurs singly or in small groups along steep coral-rich drop-offs of sheltered coasts (Ref. 48637). Feeds on algae and microfauna living in between the algae (Ref. 89999). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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