Reticulated Butterflyfish, Chaetodon reticulatus (Cuvier, 1831)

Introduction

The Reticulated Butterflyfish can be recognised by its colouration. The body is black with white scale centres giving it a spotted appearance. There is a white-edged black bar through the eye and a broad whitish area behind this. The upper edge of the anal fin is red-orange.

Identification

The Reticulated Butterflyfish can be recognised by its colouration. The body is black with white scale centres giving it a spotted appearance.

There is a white-edged black bar through the eye and a broad whitish area behind this. The upper edge of the anal fin is red-orange.

Distribution

This species is known from tropical marine waters of the central and western Pacific.

In Australia it is recorded from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland and some Coral Sea reefs.

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 mainly coral polyps.

References

• Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
• 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.