Blacktail butterflyfish
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| Blacktail butterflyfish | ||||||||||||||
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| Chaetodon austriacus Ruppell 1836 |
The blacktail butterflyfish or exquisite butterflyfish, Chaetodon austriacus, is a member of the Chaetodontidae.
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[edit] Range
The blacktail butterflyfish has a small range; the Red Sea and southern Oman only.[1][2]
The blacktail butterflyfish has been sighted in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines by Dr. Gerry Allen during a fish identification project last July 2007.[citation needed]
[edit] Description
The blacktail butterflyfish is up to 14 cm long and is orange with thin, curved black stripes. Its anal fin and tail are black. The body of juveniles is whiter above with white bands on the tail. [2]
[edit] Diet
It grazes on coral polyps and anemone tentacles.[2]
[edit] Habitat
Adults are generally found in pairs patrolling a territory or range while juveniles are found among coral branches. They tend to be found in coral-rich areas between 0.5 m and 20 m depth, on seaward reefs or in lagoons or bays.[2]
[edit] Similar species
The melon butterflyfish is similar in coloration but has orange bands on the tail and anal fin.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ "Chaetodon austriacus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 7 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Lieske, E. and Myers, R.F. (2004) Coral reef guide; Red Sea London, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-715986-2
