Saddle butterflyfish

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Saddle butterflyfish

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
Species: C. ephippium
Binomial name
Chaetodon ephippium
Cuvier, 1831

The saddle butterflyfish, Chaetodon ephippium, is a member of the Chaetodontidae.

Contents

[edit] Range

Found in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean from Sri Lanka and Cocos-Keeling Islands to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals and New South Wales, Australia. [1]

[edit] Description

Grows to a maximum of 30cm long. Overall color is yellowish grey with a large black spot bordered below by a broad white band on the back, and wavy blue lines on the lower sides. Adults have a filament extending posteriorly from the upper part of the soft portion of the dorsal fin. [1]

[edit] Diet

Saddle butterflyfish feed on filamentous algae, small invertebrates, coral polyps, and fish eggs. [1]

[edit] Habitat

The Saddle butterflyfish is found at depths between 0 and 30m, in coral reefs. [1]

[edit] References

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