Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Etymology: Chaetodon: Greek, chaite = hair + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335). More on author: Linnaeus.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 5 - 30 m (Ref. 58304). Tropical; 28°N - 32°S
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 23.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710); common length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450)
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea (Ref. 5372) and East Africa to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Lord Howe and the Austral islands. Closely related to Chaetodon decussatus.
Found in reef flats, lagoon and seaward reefs and sometimes in turbid waters subject to freshwater runoff. Swim in pairs. Omnivorous, feed on algae, coral polyps, crustaceans and worms (Ref. 5503). Oviparous (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Stable monogamous pairs with both pair members jointly defending a feeding territory against other pairs (Ref. 58331), but often accompanies other species without being aggressive. Easily maintained in tanks.
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01983 (-0.08944 - 0.12910), b=2.99 (2.91 - 3.06), based on LWR estimates for species & genus-BS (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.6 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (17 of 100) .
