Pinstripe Butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunulatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1825
Redfin Butterflyfish
Click to enlarge image
© Ian Skipworth
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Chaetodon
- Species
- lunulatus
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- It grows to 15 cm in length.
Introduction
The Pinstripe Butterflyfish can be recognised by its colouration. It occurs in tropical waters of the western Pacific.
Identification
The species can be recognised by its colouration. It has a yellowish tinge with oblique purple-blue stripes. A yellow-edged black bar passes through the eye, and a narrow black line crosses the cheek behind the eye. The red-orange anal fin has a yellow-edged black band along its base.
Distribution
The Pinstripe Butterflyfish is known from the western Pacific. In Australia it occurs from off north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef to southern 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 eats coral polyps.
References
- Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557. (as C. trifasciatus).
