Saddleback Butterflyfish*

Color of Life, Color Conceals.

This Saddleback Butterflyfish helps conceals its head by having a vertical line through the eye and a large eve-like spot on its upper posterior less vital portion of its body confusing predators.

 

TAXONOMY

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

Order Perciformes (Perch likes)

Family Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)

 

Genus/Species: Chaetodon ephippium

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Yellowish grey with a large black spot on the upper rear sides bordered below by a broad white band; orange area from snout to ventral fins, wavy blue lines on the lower sides. The breast and snout are yellow. Adults have a filament extending from the back of the dorsal fin.

Length to 23 cm (9 inches) in length.

 

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific. in lagoons and seaward reefs to 30 m (98feet) in coral rich, clear waters.

 

DIET IN THE WILD: Filamentous algae, small invertebrates, sponges, coral polyps, and fish eggs.

 

REPRODUCTION: Oviparous

 

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least Concern (LC)

 

Color Cluster, Color on the Reef

 

References

 

California Academy of Sciences Color of life docent training 2015

 

Ron's Wordpress shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-vi

 

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/5562

 

EOL eol.org/pages/1012777/details

 

Australia Museum australianmuseum.net.au/Saddle-Butterflyfish-Chaetodon-ep...

 

Ron's flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157625119200613/

 

1-23-13, 2-19-14, 10-12-15

1-23-16 *not currently on exhibit

Done