Saddle Butterflyfish, Chaetodon ephippium (Cuvier, 1831)

Scientific name: Chaetodon ephippium
Alternative name/s:
Black-blotched Butterfly-fish, Saddleback Butterflyfish, Saddled Butterflyfish
Saddled Butterflyfish, <i>Chaetodon ephippium</i> Click to enlarge image
A Saddled Butterflyfish fish at a depth of 25m, Harrier Reef, Great Barrier Reef off Port Douglas, Queensland, November 1998. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Chaetodon
    Species
    ephippium
    Family
    Chaetodontidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 23 cm in length.

Introduction

The Saddle Butterflyfish can be recognised by the large white-bordered black area on the upper side below the dorsal fin. The species occurs in marine tropical waters of the Western and Central Pacific.

Identification

The Saddle Butterflyfish can be recognised by the large white-bordered black area on the upper side below the dorsal fin. The body is grey with blue-grey stripes across the lower sides. The breast and snout are yellow. Adults have a filament extending from the back of the dorsal fin.

Distribution

It occurs in marine tropical waters of the Western and Central Pacific. In Australia it is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to the northern coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
  3. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  4. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  6. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  7. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.