Chaetodon ornatissimus Cuvier, 1831
Ornate butterflyfish
Chaetodon ornatissimus
photo by Cook, D.C.

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  20 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 36 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Sri Lanka to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands; throughout Micronesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-28; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 20-23. Body is white with orange to orange-brown oblique bands on the sides. Two broad yellow-edged black bars are on the head; one running across the eye and another on the snout (Ref. 4855). Snout length 2.6-3.2 in HL. Body depth 1.3-1.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Occur in clear waters and coral-rich areas of lagoon and seaward reefs. However, only common in seaward reefs (Ref. 1602). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Juveniles are solitary, living among branching corals, while adults are almost always in pairs and are home-ranging. Feed exclusively on coral tissue (Ref. 1602). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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