Prognathodes aya (Jordan, 1886)
Bank butterflyfish
photo by Dubosc, J.

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 20 - 170 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: North Carolina and northeastern Gulf of Mexico to Yucatan in Mexico; unknown in Bahamas and Antilles.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-20; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 14-16. Broad dark bar slopes down and backward from middle of spiny dorsal fin to base of rear part of anal fin (Ref. 26938).
Biology:  Inhabit deep offshore reefs (Ref. 4858). Rarely seen by divers (Ref. 4858). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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