Eightband butterflyfish

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Eightband butterflyfish

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
Species: C. octofasciatus
Binomial name
Chaetodon octofasciatus
Bloch, 1787

The eightband butterflyfish, Chaetodon octofasciatus, is a member of the Chaetodontidae.

Contents

[edit] Range

Found in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean from Indonesia and the Philippines, through Papua New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef to the Solomon Island, Palau, and north to China; extends into the Indian Ocean at least to the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka. [1]

[edit] Description

A small butterflyfish growing to a maximum of 12cm long. White to yellowish below with 7 black stripes over head and sides, one centrally on snout and another as a strong black margin on end of dorsal and anal fins. Third line extends onto ventral fin. [1]

[edit] Diet

Eightband butterflyfish feed exclusively on coral polyps. [1]

[edit] Habitat

The eightband butterflyfish is found at depths between 3 and 20m, in coral reefs. Swim in pairs in coral rich areas of sheltered lagoon and inshore reefs; juveniles seen in groups among Acropora corals. [1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d "Chaetodon octofasciatus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 12 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.