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Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, 1758

Vagabond butterflyfish
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Chaetodon vagabundus   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Chaetodon vagabundus (Vagabond butterflyfish)
Chaetodon vagabundus
Juvenile picture by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver


Australia country information

Common names: Criss-cross butterfly-fish, Vagabond butterflyfish
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Occurs in Lord Howe Island (Ref. 8879, 33390, 75154), Hook, Hayman, Heron and Lizard islands (Ref. 40521).
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/as.html
National Fisheries Authority: http://www.csiro.au/
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Johnson, J.W., 1999
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) > Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Etymology: Chaetodon: Greek, chaite = hair + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
  More on author: Linnaeus.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 30 m (Ref. 58304).   Tropical; 36°N - 36°S, 28°E - 132°W

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Indo-Pacific: 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.

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)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23 - 25; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 19 - 22. This species is distinguished by the following characters: snout length 2.5-3.2 in head length; greatest body depth 1.5-1.7 in SL. Body pattern chevron with narrow lines on side; black band across posterior body which does not include entire rear part of dorsal fin (Ref. 90102).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Adults are found in reef flats, lagoon and seaward reefs and sometimes in turbid waters subject to freshwater runoff swimming in pairs. They are omnivorous, feeding on algae, coral polyps, crustaceans and worms (Ref. 5503). They are oviparous (Ref. 205) and monogamous (Ref. 52884). Stable monogamous pairs with both pair members jointly defending a feeding territory against other pairs (Ref. 58331) occur, but often accompany other species without being aggressive. They are easily maintained in tanks. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Stable monogamous pairs with both pair members jointly defending a feeding territory. Pelagic larvae settle to shallow (<4 m) back reef habitats consisting of rubble, seagrass and low coral cover (Ref. 58331). Monogamous mating is observed as both obligate and social (Ref. 52884).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 09 October 2009

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless




Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
FAO(Publication : search) | FishSource |

More information

Trophic ecology
Food items
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Food consumptions
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Predators
Ecology
Ecology
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Length-length rel.
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Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 24.7 - 29.3, mean 28.4 (based on 3294 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5000   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01995 (0.01209 - 0.03293), b=2.99 (2.85 - 3.13), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  3.4   ±0.29 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref. 120179):  High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Low vulnerability (13 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Unknown.