Chaetodon octofasciatus Bloch, 1787
Eightband butterflyfish
photo by Stan Shea@114°E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  12 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 20 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: East Indies and the Philippines, through Papua New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef to the Solomon Island, Palau, and north to China; extends into the Indian Ocean at least to the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-19; Anal spines: 3-4; Anal soft rays: 14-17. White to yellowish below with 7 black stripes over head and sides, one centrally on snout and another as a strong black margin on end of dorsal and anal fins. Third line extends onto ventral fin (Ref. 48636). Snout length 3.0-4.1 in HL. Body depth 1.4-1.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Swim in pairs in coral rich areas of sheltered lagoon and inshore reefs; juveniles seen in groups among Acropora corals. Feed exclusively on coral polyps. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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