Chaetodon austriacus Rüppell, 1836
Blacktail butterflyfish
photo by Field, R.

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  13 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 15 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-21; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 19-19; Vertebrae: 24-24. Axillary scale present. Color: Presence of band around head connected at the nape and throat. Mouth and chin area black while interorbital area with varying patterns of lines, dots and triangles.
Biology:  Found in coral rich areas; juveniles confined to single coral heads (Ref. 9710). Territorial and usually in pairs. Mainly diurnal. 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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