Ctenochaetus strigosus was first formally described in 1828 as Acanthurus strigosus by the English zoologist Edward Turner Bennett with its type locality given as the Sandwich Islands.

[6] Ctenochaetus strigosus has its dorsal fin supported by 8 spines and between 25 and 28 soft rays while its anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 22 to 25 soft rays.

The overall color is purplish to brown with slender, longitudinal light blue lines and a yellow ring around the eyes.

[7] This species has a maximum published standard length of 15 cm (5.9 in).

[1] It is a benthopelagic species found at depths between 1 and 113 m (3 ft 3 in and 370 ft 9 in) over coral, rock and rubble where it lives singly and feeds by sifting food, such as diatoms and algae, detritus in its bristle-like teeth.