Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Etymology: Heniochus: Greek, enioi, -ai, -a = sometimes, some + Greek, oche = food (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Linnaeus.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 178 m (Ref. 86942), usually 15 - 75 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 30°N - 35°S
Indo-Pacific: Persian/Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Tanzania to South Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mascarenes, St Brandon Shoals, Chagos, Maldives and Lakshadweep; elsewhere to Japan, Micronesia, Australia and French Polynesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5372); common length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450)
Inhabit deep, protected lagoons and channels, and the deeper parts of outer reef slopes. Juveniles are often solitary while adults occur in pairs (Ref. 1602, 48636). A planktivorous species that generally remains within a few meters of the reef. Juveniles may sometimes pick on parasites on the epidermis of other fish (Ref. 5503). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
Steene, R.C., 1978. Butterfly and angelfishes of the world. A.H. & A.W. Reed Pty Ltd., Australia. vol. 1. 144 p. (Ref. 4859)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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