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Chaetodon zanzibarensis Playfair, 1867

Zanzibar butterflyfish
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Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050
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Chaetodon zanzibarensis   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Chaetodon zanzibarensis (Zanzibar butterflyfish)
Chaetodon zanzibarensis
Picture by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) > Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Etymology: Chaetodon: Greek, chaite = hair + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 40 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; - 30°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Western Indian Ocean: East Africa south to Durban, South Africa (Ref. 5372). Also found in oceanic islands.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15 - 17. Black spot with white or bluish edges on its sides (Ref. 5372).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Usually seen alone or in pairs (specially during spawning) but occasionally in small groups, particularly in the vicinity of staghorn Acropora and Goniopora (Ref. 5503) thickets. Diet consists of live corals which makes it difficult to maintain in captivity (Ref. 4858). Little intraspecific nor interspecific aggressiveness (Ref. 5503). Oviparous (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Monogamous mating is observed as both obligate and social (Ref. 52884).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Allen, G.R., 1985. Butterfly and angelfishes of the world. Vol. 2. 3rd edit. in English. Mergus Publishers, Melle, Germany. (Ref. 4858)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 08 October 2009

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless





Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
FAO -