Reticulated Butterflyfish, Chaetodon reticulatus (Cuvier, 1831)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Reticulated Butterflyfish, Chaetodon reticulatus (Cuvier, 1831)

The Reticulated Butterflyfish can be recognised by its colouration. The body is black with white scale centres giving it a spotted appearance. There is a white-edged black bar through the eye and a broad whitish area behind this. The upper edge of the anal fin is red-orange.

Identification

The Reticulated Butterflyfish can be recognised by its colouration. The body is black with white scale centres giving it a spotted appearance.

There is a white-edged black bar through the eye and a broad whitish area behind this. The upper edge of the anal fin is red-orange.

Size range

The Reticulated Butterflyfish grows to 16cm in length.

Distribution

This species is known from tropical marine waters of the central and western Pacific.

In Australia it is recorded from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland and some Coral Sea reefs.

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

It eats mainly coral polyps.

Classification

Species:: reticulatus
Genus:: Chaetodon
Family:: Chaetodontidae
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.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

Last Updated: 15 May 2009

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