Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Etymology: Chaetodon: Greek, chaite = hair + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: The authors indicated that the type specimen was held in Museo Meyeri Lugduni Batavorum (Meyer’s Museum in Leiden). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Bloch & Schneider.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 2 - 25 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 30°N - 30°S
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Line Islands; north to the Ryukyu Islands; south to the Great Barrier Reef; including Micronesia and the Galapagos Islands (Ref. 5227).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 48636)
Occur in coral rich areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs, and feed exclusively on coral polyps (Ref. 9710). Juvenile usually solitary among branching corals, adults usually paired and home-ranging (Ref. 9710, 48636). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Monogamous mating is observed as both obligate and social (Ref. 52884).
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
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