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; depth range 3 - 55 m (Ref. 13121), usually 5 - 20 m (Ref. 13121). Tropical; 37°N - 7°S, 100°W - 34°W (Ref. 55200)
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 12.4  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 12;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 19-21;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 16 - 17. With two broad black bars on side of body and a third bar basally in soft portion of dorsal fin which extends onto caudal peduncle; broad black submarginal bands in the median fins; pelvic fins black except for the spine (Ref. 13442).
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to Santa Catarina, Brazil (Ref. 57756), including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Eastern Central Atlantic: St. Paul's Rocks (Ref. 13121).
Inhabit coral reefs. Occur singly or in pairs. Feed on polychaete worms, coral polyps, crustaceans and mollusk eggs. Oviparous (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Adults may form plankton-feeding aggregations of up to 20 individuals, and occasionally clean other reef fishes which join the group, such as grunts, parrotfishes and surgeon fishes. (Ref: 40093). Generally common (Ref. 9710).
Allen, G.R., 1985. Butterfly and angelfishes of the world. Vol. 2. 3rd edit. in English. Mergus Publishers, Melle, Germany.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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=0.02559 (-0.08466 - 0.13584), b=3.04906 (2.97577 - 3.12234), based on LWR estimates for species & genus-BS (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 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 (12 of 100) .