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Family Chaetodontidae - Butterflyfishes

Order:

Perciformes

Class:

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

No. of Genera:

No. of Species:

114

Environment:

Fresh: No Brackish: Yes Marine: Yes

Aquarium:

many

First Fossil Record:

lower Tertiary, lower Eocene Ref.: Berg, L.S..1958

Remark:

Atlantic (tropical to temperate), Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Primarily Indo-west Pacific. Highly compressed body. Dorsal fin continuous, with 6-16 spines and 15-30 soft rays. Spines in anal fin 3-5, usually 3, and 14-23 soft rays. Caudal fin with 15 branched rays, rounded to emarginate. Scales extend onto anal and dorsal fins. Mouth small, terminal and protrusible with a band or rows of small brushlike teeth. Gut coiled several times. Two anteriorly directed processes in swim bladder. Vertebrae 24 (11+13). Most with bright coloration, a dark band across the eye and an 'eyespot' dorsally. Generally near coral reefs. Typically diurnal. Many feed on a combination of coelenterate polyps or tentacles, small invertebrates, fish eggs, and filamentous algae while others are specialists or planktivores. Most species occur as heterosexual pairs. Pelagic spawners. Tholichthys larval stage with the head region covered with bony plates. Some of the planktivores and generalists do well in the aquarium, but most species are difficult to maintain, and obligate corallivores nearly impossible. Chaet- (gr.) = bristle, odont- (gr.) = tooth

Etymology:

Greek, chaite = hair + Greek, odous, odontos = tooth, teeth. 1750 ( Ref. 45335).

Division:

Marine

Reproductive guild:

nonguarders

Typical activity level:

normal

Main Ref.:

Nelson, J.S..1994

Coordinator:

Show species | Nominal species list for Chaetodontidae | Identification keys | CAS specimen photos | References

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