Posted by gerard on December 5, 2008 under Saltwater Fish | 
Continuing with our Butterfly themed week here is the Blue-cheeked Butterfly.
The Blue-cheeked Butterflyfish, Chaetodon semilarvatus, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, at depths of between 3 and 20 m.
Its length is up to 23 cm (9.1 in). It is mostly yellow, with thin slate blue vertical lines on the sides and a slate blue cheek patch in lieu of the usual black eyestripe of most Chaetodon.
The Blue-cheeked Butterflyfish belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, it seems closest to a group contianing the Black-backed Butterflyfish (C. melannotus), the Spot-naped Butterflyfish (C. oxycephalus), or the peculiar Black-wedged Butterflyfish (C. falcula) and Pacific Double-saddle Butterflyfish or “False Falcula”, (C. ulietensis). Though the present species does not share their white body with black on the back and caudal peduncle and even lacks the typical eyestripe of Chaetodon, it has the same tell-tale blue vertical lines as these species.
C. semilarvatus is a common species found in areas where there is rich coral growth, often encountered in pairs or small aggregations. It is occasionally observed hovering in a stationary position for extended periods under ledges of Acropora plate corals. Reproduction is oviparous, and pairs are formed during breeding.
—–
Text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Posted by gerard on December 3, 2008 under Saltwater Fish |
The Black-wedged Butterflyfish, Chaetodon falcula, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). IT is found in the Indian Ocean, from eastern Africa south to 27°S and east to Indonesia.
It grows to a maximum of 20 cm (nearly 8 in) long. Its shape is reminiscent of longsnout butterflyfish, though the snout is not as extremely prolonged and the pattern is very different. The body is white with a series of narrow vertical dark grey lines and bright yellow and orange over the back, dorsal fin, anal fin and caudal fin. There are two well-defined black saddles on the back, and as usual the characteristic black eye-band of Chaetodon is present.
The Black-wedged Butterflyfish is found on the reef edge and upper slope. It prefers current-prone habitats 1-20 m deep. It mainly feeds on invertebrates.
It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, the closest relative of this peculiar species is the similar-looking Pacific Double-saddle Butterflyfish or “False Falcula”, C. ulietensis. Other fairly close relatives are the quite differently-shaped but similarly-colored Lined (C. lineolatus) and Spot-naped butterflyfishes (C. oxycephalus), while the Blue-cheeked Butterflyfish (C. semilarvatus) seems to be a far more basal lineage relative to all of these. The bluish vertical lines are present in all of these, while a white body with yellow behind and black on back and caudal peduncle are only shared among the four less ancient species.
—–
Text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Posted by gerard on December 2, 2008 under Saltwater Fish |
The Teardrop Butterflyfish, Chaetodon unimaculatus, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Indo-Pacific oceans from Indonesia) to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands, and throughout Micronesia.
In the Indian Ocean it is replaced by the Yellow Teardrop Butterflyfish (C. interruptus), now considered to be a separate species but previously included in C. unimaculatus as a subspecies. In its subgenus Lepidochaetodon – sometimes considered a separate genus – it is only distantly related to species such as the Sunburst Butterflyfish (C. kleinii) and the Tahiti Butterflyfish (C. trichrous).
Description and ecology
Its length is up to 20 cm (8 in). The Teardrop Butterflyfish is easily identified by the colour pattern of yellow, white towards the belly, and with a black spot below the dorsal fin and a black vertical band through the eye. The caudal fin is transparent. Juveniles are virtually identical to adults in coloration.
They occur in small groups on reef flats, clear lagoon and seaward reefs, and feed on soft and hard corals, polychaetes, small crustaceans, and filamentous algae. In Indonesia, they are usually seen at moderate depths, usually swimming in small groups. Adults mainly occur at depths of 20 to 60 m. Reproduction is oviparous, with monogamous pairs forming during breeding season.
—–
Text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Posted by gerard on December 1, 2008 under Saltwater Fish |
The Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) is also known as the Crescent-masked Butterflyfish or the Lunule Butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Indo-Pacific region from East Africa to Ducie, the Hawaiian and the Marquesas Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island and Rapa Iti, and also in the southeast Atlantic around East London, South Africa. Its length is up to 20 cm (nearly 8 in).
It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, its closest relative is probably the very similar Red Sea Raccoon Butterflyfish or Diagonal Butterflyfish (C. lunula). Other close relatives appear to be the Black Butterflyfish (C. flavirostris), Philippine Butterflyfish (C. adiergastos), and perhaps also the unusual Red-tailed Butterflyfish (C. collare). Although the coloration of this group varies quite a lot, they are all largish butterflyfishes with an oval outline, and most have a pattern of ascending oblique stripes on the flanks. Except in the Red-tailed Butterflyfish, there is at least a vestigial form of the “racoon” mask, with a white space between the dark crown and eye areas.
The raccoon butterflyfish is a nocturnal species that is usually found in pairs or small groups in warm, shallow reef flats of lagoon and seaward reefs, at depths down to 30 m. Juveniles occur among rocks of inner reef flats and in tide pools. Adults feed mainly on nudibranchs, tubeworm tentacles, and other benthic invertebrates, algae and coral polyps. Reproduction is oviparous, with pairs forming during breeding.
The raccoon butterflyfish is generally not aggressive towards other fish, with the exception of lionfish and triggerfish. In captivity, the typical lifespan of a Raccoon Butterflyfish is 5 to 7 years. It has been observed as a beneficial predator of Aiptasia and Majano sea anemones. They will eliminate this nuisance pest within a 2- to 6-week period depending on the anemone population and size of the tank; however, they will eagerly feed on any soft corals and may cause more harm than good for the decoration. In a confined environment, this species is prone to succumbing to “marine ich”, infection by the ciliate Cryptocaryon irritans.
—–
Text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Posted by gerard on November 19, 2008 under Saltwater Fish |
The Eritrean Butterflyfish or Crown Butterflyfish, Chaetodon paucifasciatus, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is essentially just known from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, but has been reported from East Africa.
It grows up to 14 cm (5.5 in) in length. It is white with black chevrons, except for a red zone stretching from the aft dorsal fin across the caudal peduncle to the end of the anal fin. A red bar runs vertically through the caudal fin. There are black eyestripes and a black “crown” with white border.
Eritrean Butterflyfish are oviparous fish forming monogamous pairings during breeding. They are usually found in pairs or in small groups over coral and rubble areas from 1m to 30m depth. They feed on coral polyps, gorgonians, algae, polychaete worms and small crustaceans.
This fish fares well in the aquarium and thus is sought after by hobbyists.
—–
Text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
