Ryan Photographic - Chaetodontidae - Butterflyfishes

Family Chaetodontidae

There are 120 species of butterflyfishes in 10 genera according to Fishbase.The name Chaetodont means "bristle tooth". They are found in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans and are normally diurnal and in pairs. Some are obligate corallivores and as such are sometimes used as "indicator" species to indicate the health of a coral reef. Some feed on algae or small invertebrates and these are the ones normally seen in aquaria. Large schools of bannerfish can often be seen at the change of tide feeding on small planktonic invertebrates. In the Sea of Cortez the barberfish will solicit and clean pelagic fishes (the cleaning role for benthic fish is taken over by gobies and a pipefish here). Along with clownfish and angelfishes they are emblematic of coral reefs and are depicted on everything from shower curtains or floor tiles to towels and coffee mugs.

They all have a small terminal mouth - often at the end of an elongate jaw. Most have a dark band which passes through the eye.

They are pelagic spawners, releasing their eggs into the water column. The eggs hatch into a characteristic Tholichthys larva which has bony plates on the head.

Chaetodon aculeatus Longsnout butterflyfish

Chaetodon adiergastos Panda butterflyfish

Chaetodon auriga Threadfin butterflyfish

Chaetodon auriga, Threadfin butterflyfish photographed in Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Chaetodon austriacus Blacktail butterflyfish

Chaetodon baronessa Eastern triangular butterflyfish

Chaetodon baronessa, Eastern triangular buttterflyfish, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Chaetodon bennetti Eclipse butterflyfish

Chaetodon capistratus Four-eyed butterflyfish

Chaetodon capistratus Four-eye butterflyfish 2, Glover's Reef, Belize.

Chaetodon citrinellus Speckled butterflyfish, Fiji, 2005

Chaetodon guentheri Crochet butterflyfish

Chaetodon kleinii Blacklip butterflyfish

FISH 4067 Chaetodon kleinii, blacklipped butterflyfish, Taveuni, Fiji.

Chaetodon lineolatus Lined butterflyfish

Chaetodon lunula Raccoon butterflyfish

Chaetodon lunulatus Redfin butterflyfish

Chaetodon melannotus Black-backed butterflyfish

FISH 0674 Chaetodon melannotus Black-backed butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Chaetodon mertensii Yellowback butterflyfish

Chaetodon mertensii, Yellowback butterflyfish, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Chaetodon multicinctus Multiband butterflyfish

FISH 6029 Chaetodon multicinctus, multiband butterflyfish pair, Kona, Hawaii (endemic to the Hawaiian region).

Chaetodon ocellatus Spotfin butterflyfish

Chaetodon ocellicaudus Spot-tail butterflyfish

Chaetodon octofasciatus Eight-banded butterflyfish

Chaetodon ornatissimus Ornate butterflyfish

FISH 1279 Chaetodon ornatissimus Ornate butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

FISH 5915 Chaetodon ornatissimus Ornate butterflyfish, Kona, Hawai'i.

Chaetodon paucifasciatus Red Sea

Chaetodon pelewensis Dot & Dash Butterflyfish, Fiji

Chaetodon plebeius Blue-spot butterflyfish

Chaetodon punctatofasciatus Spot-banded butterflyfish

Chaetodon quadrimaculatus Fourspot butterflyfish

FISH 6177 Fourspot butterflyfish, Chaetodon quadrimaculatus Kona, Hawaii in front of Porites lobata coral.

FISH 6285 Fourspot butterflyfish, Chaetodon quadrimaculatus Kona, Hawaii

FISH 6289 Fourspot butterflyfish, Chaetodon quadrimaculatus Kona, Hawaii

Chaetodon rafflesi Latticed butterflyfish

FISH 4042 Chaetodon rafflesi Latticed butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Chaetodon reticulatus Reticulated butterflyfish

Chaetodon reticulatus, Reticulated butterflyfish, Kadavu, Fiji.

Chaetodon semilarvatus Masked Butterflyfish

Chaetodon speculum Oval-spot butterflyfish

Chaetodon striatus Banded butterflyfish

Chaetodon ulietensis Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish

Chaetodon unimaculatus Teardrop butterflyfish

Chaetodon vagabundus Vagabond butterflyfish

Chaetodon xanthurus Crosshatch butterflyfish

Chaetodon xanthocephalus Yellowhead butterflyfish

Chelmon rostratus Long-beaked coralfish

Coradion chrysozonus Orange-banded coralfish

FISH 0174 Coradion chrysozonus Orange-banded coralfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Coradion melanopus Two-eyed coralfish

Forcipiger flavissimus Longnose butterflyfish

Forcipiger longirostris Big longnose butterflyfish

Hemitaurichthys polylepis Pyramid butterflyfish

Hemitaurichthys polylepis Pyramid butterflyfish, Cape Washington, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Heniochus chrysostomus Pennant bannerfish

Heniochus diphreutes Schooling bannerfish

Heniochus diphreutes Schooling bannerfish, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Heniochus diphreutes Schooling bannerfish. Large school, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Heniochus monoceros, Masked bannerfish

Heniochus monoceros, Masked bannerfish, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Heniochus singularis Singular bannerfish

FISH 0194 Heniochus singularis Singular bannerfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Heniochus varius Humphead bannerfish

FISH 1145 Heniochus varius Humphead bannerfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Johnrandallia nigrirostris Barberfish

FISH 5034 Johnrandallia nigrirostris Barberfish, Sea of Cortez, Baja California.

Fishes

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