Merten's Butterflyfish, Chaetodon mertensii (Cuvier, 1831)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Merten's Butterflyfish, Chaetodon mertensii (Cuvier, 1831)

Merten's Butterflyfish is most easily recognised by its distinctive colouration. It occurs throughout much of the Indo-West Pacific.

Identification

Merten's Butterflyfish is most easily recognised by its distinctive colouration. It is white with 6-7 black chevron-shaped markings on the body. The posterior portion of the body and dorsal, anal and caudal fins are yellow-orange. There is a black, silver-edged bar through they eye and a dark mark on the nape.

Size range

Merten's Butterflyfish grows to 12.5 cm in length.

Distribution

It is a marine species that is widely distributed through the Indo-West Pacific. In Australia it is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef south to the central coast of New South Wales.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Merten's Butterflyfish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

It eats algae and bottom-dwelling invertebrates.

Classification

Species:: mertensii
Genus:: Chaetodon
Family:: Chaetodontidae
Order:: Perciformes
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 5 August 2010

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