| Family: |
Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes) |
| Max. size: |
25 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 20 years |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 20 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. Throughout Micronesia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 12-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-21; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 16-18. Description: Changes color when frightened or when observed at night. The dorsal portion of the body turns black except for two white patches (Ref. 1602). Snout length 2.6-3.3 in HL. Body depth 1.6-1.8 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Usually solitary or in pairs in coral-rich areas of reef flats, lagoons, and seaward reefs to a depth of over 15 m. Juveniles inshore. In pairs or traveling in small groups (Ref. 48636). Feed on octocorallian and scleractinian coral polyps. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Easy to maintain in the aquarium. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
