Ornate Butterflyfish, Chaetodon ornatissimus Cuvier, 1831

Scientific name: Chaetodon ornatissimus
Ornate Butterflyfish, <i>Chaetodon ornatissimus</i> Click to enlarge image
An Ornate Butterflyfish at a depth of 15m, St Crispin's Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, December 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Chaetodon
    Species
    ornatissimus
    Family
    Chaetodontidae
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 18 cm in length.

Introduction

The Ornate Butterflyfish is easily recognised by its colour pattern. Two fish can be viewed 24 seconds into the movie, below.

Identification

The Ornate Butterflyfish is easily recognised by its colour pattern. It usually has six oblique orange stripes on the body, and black and yellow bars on the head. Between the eyes is a greyish triangular mark. The tail has two black bars.

Distribution

The Ornate Butterflyfish is found in tropical marine waters throughout the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is known from central to north-western Western Australia and the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

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.

Feeding and diet

It feeds on coral polyps.

References

  1. Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
  2. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.