Skin pathology in H awaiian goldring surgeonfish, C tenochaetus strigosus ( B ennett)

Twenty‐eight goldring surgeonfish, C tenochaetus strigosus ( B ennett), manifesting skin lesions and originating from the north‐western and main H awaiian I slands were examined. Skin lesions were amorphous and ranged from simple dark or light discolouration to multicoloured tan to white sessile masses with an undulant surface. Skin lesions covered 2–66% of the fish surface, and there was no predilection for lesions affecting a particular part of the fish. Males appeared over‐represented. Microscopy revealed the skin lesions to be hyperplasia, melanophoromas or iridophoromas. The presence of skin tumours in a relatively unspoiled area of H awaii is intriguing. Explaining their distribution, cause and impact on survivorship of fish all merit further study because C . strigosus is an economically important fish in the region.