WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Blue-lipped Bristletooth

Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus

Also known as: Bluelip Bristletooth, Doctorfish, Lancetfish, Reef Tang, Short-tail Bristletooth, Straited Surgeonfish, Thorntail, Thorntail Fish, Twospot Surgeonfish, Yelloweye Bristletooth

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Lembeh, Indonesia · August 20081 / 5

Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.

01

Overview

Found singly or in small schools, around upper parts of reef slopes, over inner and outer reefs, rich in coral growth.

Surgeonfish have a blade like spine in the tail that points outwards when bent, unicorns have two hook-like plates along the tail, these are used for defence and are as sharp as a surgeons scalpel, hence the name "Surgeonfish".
Some species are venomous.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Head & Mouth
yellow eye ring

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.

  • Range · Western Pacific
  • Country only · 5
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools, around upper parts of reef slopes, over inner and outer reefs, rich in coral growth.

04

Adult photos 5

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderAcanthuriformes
    5. familyAcanthuridae
    6. genusCtenochaetus
    7. speciesCtenochaetus cyanocheilus Randall & Clements, 2001

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Surgeonfishes-Tangs-Unicornfishes (Acanthuridae)