| Family: |
Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes) |
| Max. size: |
15 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 90 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (south to Coffee Bay, South Africa, Ref. 5372) to the Hawaiian Islands and Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales, Australia and New Caledonia. Eastern Pacific: Galapagos Islands (Ref. 5227). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 13-14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-23; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 17-20; Vertebrae: 24-24. Body is yellowish brown with two broad white vertical bars running across the body one from near the origin of the dorsal spine and the other from the middle of the back. A black bar runs vertically across the eye. There are numerous dotted horizontal stripes on the sides. The margin of caudal fin is transparent (Ref. 4855). Snout length 2.5-3.2 in HL. Body depth 1.5-1.8 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Occur in deeper lagoons and channels, and seaward reefs (Ref. 1602). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Depth 2-61 m, usually below 10 m (Ref. 90102). Occur singly or in pairs (Ref. 37816). Common, omnivorous individuals that feed mainly on soft coral polyps (mainly on Sarcophyton tracheliophorum and Litophyton viridis), algae and zooplankton. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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