Ryan Photographic - Chaetodontidae - Butterflyfishes


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Family Chaetodontidae

There are 120 species of butterflyfishes in 10 genera according to Fishbase.The name Chaetodont means "bristle tooth". They are found in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans and are normally diurnal and in pairs. Some are obligate corallivores and as such are sometimes used as "indicator" species to indicate the health of a coral reef. Some feed on algae or small invertebrates and these are the ones normally seen in aquaria. Large schools of bannerfish can often be seen at the change of tide feeding on small planktonic invertebrates. In the Sea of Cortez the barberfish will solicit and clean pelagic fishes (the cleaning role for benthic fish is taken over by gobies and a pipefish here). Along with clownfish and angelfishes they are emblematic of coral reefs and are depicted on everything from shower curtains or floor tiles to towels and coffee mugs.

They all have a small terminal mouth - often at the end of an elongate jaw. Most have a dark band which passes through the eye.

They are pelagic spawners, releasing their eggs into the water column. The eggs hatch into a characteristic Tholichthys larva which has bony plates on the head.

 

Chaetodon aculeatus Longsnout butterflyfish

Chaetodon aculeatus Longsnout butterflyfish, Roatan

FISH 1171 Chaetodon aculeatus Longsnout butterflyfish, Roatan, Honduras.

Chaetodon aculeatus Longsnout butterflyfish, Roatan

FISH 1173 Chaetodon aculeatus Longsnout butterflyfish, Roatan.

Chaetodon adiergastos Panda butterflyfish

Panda butterflyfish photo

FISH 3187 Chaetodon adiergastos Panda butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Chaetodon auriga Threadfin butterflyfish

Chaetodon auriga, Threadfin butterflyfish photographed in Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Chaetodon auriga Threadfin butterflyfish, Lighthouse bommie, Great Barrier Reef IMG_8370.jpg

FISH 8370 Chaetodon auriga Threadfin butterflyfish, Lighthouse bommie, Great Barrier Reef

Chaetodon auriga Threadfin butterflfish Red Sea form

FISH 1900 Chaetodon auriga Threadfin butterflfish Red Sea form

Chaetodon austriacus Blacktail butterflyfish

Chaetodon austriacus Blacktail butterflyfish Red Sea

Chaetodon austriacus Blacktail butterflyfish Red Sea

Chaetodon austriacus Blacktail butterflyfish Red Sea

FISH 7043 Chaetodon austriacus Blacktail butterflyfish Red Sea

Chaetodon baronessa Eastern triangular butterflyfish

Chaetodon baronessa, Eastern triangular buttterflyfish, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Chaetodon baronessa Eastern triangular butterflyfish  Puerto Galera, Philippines

FISH 8080 Chaetodon baronessa Eastern triangular butterflyfish Puerto Galera, Philippines.

Chaetodon baronessa Eastern triangular butterflyfish, Mike's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef IMG_8685.jpg

FISH 8685 Chaetodon baronessa Eastern triangular butterflyfish, Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef

Chaetodon bennetti Eclipse butterflyfish

Chaetodon bennetti, Eclipse butterflyfish, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Chaetodon capistratus Four-eyed butterflyfish

Chaetodon capistratus Four-eye butterflyfish, Glover's Reef, Belize.

Chaetodon capistratus Four-eye butterflyfish 2, Glover's Reef, Belize.

Chaetodon citrinellus Speckled butterflyfish

Chaetodon citrinellus Speckled butterflyfish, Fiji, 2005

Chaetodon ephippium Saddled butterflyfish

Chaetodon ephippium Saddled butterflyfish, Fiji, 2005

Chaetodon guentheri Crochet butterflyfish

Chaetodon guentheri Crochet butterflyfish, Byron Bay, Australia

FISH 7513 Chaetodon guentheri Crochet butterflyfish, Byron Bay, Australia

Chaetodon kleinii Blacklip butterflyfish

Blacklip butterflyfish

FISH 4067 Chaetodon kleinii, blacklipped butterflyfish, Taveuni, Fiji.

Chaetodon kleinii Blacklip butterflyfish, Fiji.

Chaetodon kleinii Blacklip butterflyfish Raja Ampat

FISH 0793 Chaetodon kleinii Blacklip butterflyfish Raja Ampat.

Chaetodon lineolatus Lined butterflyfish

Chaetodon lineolatus Lined butterflyfish, North Horn GBR IMG_8054.jpg

FISH 8054 Chaetodon lineolatus Lined butterflyfish, North Horn, Great Barrier Reef.

Chaetodon lineolatus Lined butterflyfish, North Horn, GBR IMG_8052.jpg

FISH 8052 Chaetodon lineolatus Lined butterflyfish, North Horn, Great Barrier Reef.

Chaetodon lunula Raccoon butterflyfish

Raccoon butterflyfish photo

FISH 0674 Chaetodon lunula Raccoon butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Chaetodon lunulatus Redfin butterflyfish

Chaetodon lunulatus Redfin butterflyfish

FISH 4578 Chaetodon lunulatus Redfin butterflyfish,Taveuni, Fiji.

Chaetodon melannotus Black-backed butterflyfish

Chaetodon melannotus Black-backed butterflyfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

FISH 8346 Chaetodon melannotus Black-backed butterflyfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

photo of black-backed butterflyfish

FISH 0674 Chaetodon melannotus Black-backed butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Chaetodon mertensii Yellowback butterflyfish

Chaetodon mertensii, Yellowback butterflyfish, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Chaetodon mertensii, Yellowback or Atoll butterflyfish, Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef IMG_8681.jpg

FISH 8681 Chaetodon mertensii, Yellowback or Atoll butterflyfish, Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef

Chaetodon multicinctus Multiband butterflyfish

multiband butterflyfish photo

FISH 6028 Chaetodon multicinctus, multiband butterflyfish, Kona, Hawai'i (endemic to the Hawaiian region).

multiband butterflyfish photo

FISH 6029 Chaetodon multicinctus, multiband butterflyfish pair, Kona, Hawaii (endemic to the Hawaiian region).

Chaetodon ocellatus Spotfin butterflyfish

Chaetodon ocellatus Spotfin Butterflyfish, Roatan

FISH 0583 Chaetodon ocellatus Spotfin Butterflyfish, Roatan

Chaetodon ocellatus Spotfin butterflyfish

FISH 3450 Chaetodon ocellatus Spotfin butterflyfish, Glover's Reef, Belize.

Chaetodon ocellicaudus Spot-tail butterflyfish

Chaetodon ocellicaudus Spot-tail butterflyfish Puerto galera, Philippines

FISH 7143 Chaetodon ocellicaudus Spot-tail butterflyfish Puerto Galera, Philippines.

Chaetodon octofasciatus Eight-banded butterflyfish

Chaetodon octofasciatus Eight-banded butterflyfish, Raja Ampat

FISH 0156 Chaetodon octofasciatus Eight-banded butterflyfish, Raja Ampat.

Chaetodon octofasciatus Eight-banded butterflyfish

FISH 0052 Chaetodon octofasciatus Eight-banded butterflyfish, Raja Ampat.

Chaetodon ornatissimus Ornate butterflyfish

ornate butterflyfish photo

FISH 1279 Chaetodon ornatissimus Ornate butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Ornate butterflyfish

FISH 5915 Chaetodon ornatissimus Ornate butterflyfish, Kona, Hawai'i.

Chaetodon ornatissimus Ornate butterflyfish Clam Beds, GBR IMG_7891.jpg

FISH 7891 Chaetodon ornatissimus Ornate butterflyfish Clam Beds, Great Barrier Reef

Chaetodon paucifasciatus Red Sea

Chaetodon paucifasciatus  Red Sea

FISH 2121 Chaetodon paucifasciatus Red Sea

paucifasciatus Redback butterflyfish Red Sea

FISH 1467 Chaetodon paucifasciatus Red Sea

Chaetodon pelewensis Dot & Dash Butterflyfish, Fiji

Chaetodon pelewensis Dot & Dash Butterflyfish, Fiji

Chaetodon pelewensis Dot & Dash Butterflyfish, Fiji

Chaetodon pelewensis Dot & Dash Butterflyfish, North Horn GBR IMG_8062.jpg

FISH 8062 Chaetodon pelewensis Dot & Dash Butterflyfish, North Horn Great Barrier Reef.

Chaetodon plebeius Blue-spot butterflyfish

Chaetodon plebeius Blue-spot butterflyfish, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Chaetodon punctatofasciatus Spot-banded butterflyfish

Chaetodon punctatofasciatus Spot-banded butterflyfish, Puerto Galera, Philippines.j

Chaetodon punctatofasciatus Spot-banded butterflyfish, Puerto Galera, Philippines.

Chaetodon quadrimaculatus Fourspot butterflyfish

fourswpot butterflyfish photo

FISH 6177 Fourspot butterflyfish, Chaetodon quadrimaculatus Kona, Hawaii in front of Porites lobata coral.

Fourspot butterflyfish, Kona

FISH 6285 Fourspot butterflyfish, Chaetodon quadrimaculatus Kona, Hawaii

Fourspot butter4flyfish, Kona, Hawaii

FISH 6289 Fourspot butterflyfish, Chaetodon quadrimaculatus Kona, Hawaii

Chaetodon rafflesi Latticed butterflyfish

photo of latticed butterflyfish

FISH 4042 Chaetodon rafflesi Latticed butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Chaetodon reticulatus Reticulated butterflyfish

Chaetodon reticulatus, Reticulated butterflyfish, Kadavu, Fiji.

Chaetodon semilarvatus Masked Butterflyfish

Chaetodon semilarvatus Masked Butterflyfish Red Sea

FISH 1547 Chaetodon semilarvatus Masked Butterflyfish Red Sea

Chaetodon semilarvatus Masked Butterflyfish Red Sea

FISH 1540 Chaetodon semilarvatus Masked Butterflyfish Red Sea

Chaetodon speculum Oval-spot butterflyfish

Chaetodon speculum, Oval-spot butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat

FISH 7053 Chaetodon speculum, Oval-spot butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat

Chaetodon speculum, Oval-spot butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat

FISH 8439 Chaetodon speculum, Oval-spot butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

Chaetodon striatus Banded butterflyfish

Chaetodon striatus, Banded butterflyfish, Glover's Reef, Belize

FISH 3047 Chaetodon striatus, Banded butterflyfish, Glover's Reef, Belize.

Chaetodon ulietensis Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish

Chaetodon ulietensis Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish, Fiji, 2005

Chaetodon unimaculatus Teardrop butterflyfish

Chaetodon unimaculatus, Teardrop butterflyfish, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Chaetodon vagabundus Vagabond butterflyfish

Chaetodon vagabundus Vagabond butterflyfish, Fiji, 2005

Chaetodon vagabundus Vagabond butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat

FISH 8345 Chaetodon vagabundus Vagabond butterflyfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

Chaetodon xanthurus Crosshatch butterflyfish

Chaetodon xanthurus Crosshatch butterflyfish, Puerto Galera, Philippines

FISH 8814 Chaetodon xanthurus Crosshatch butterflyfish, Puerto Galera, Philippines.

Chaetodon xanthocephalus Yellowhead butterflyfish

Chaetodon xanthocephalus Yellowhead butterflyfish, captive 20171207_160520.jpg

Chaetodon xanthocephalus Yellowhead butterflyfish, captive.

Chaetodon xanthocephalus Yellowhead butterflyfish, captive 20171207_160525.jpg

Chelmon rostratus Long-beaked coralfish

Chelmon rostratus Long-beaked coralfish, captive, Denver Zoo.

Coradion chrysozonus Orange-banded coralfish

photo of orange-banded coralfish

FISH 0174 Coradion chrysozonus Orange-banded coralfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Coradion melanopus Two-eyed coralfish

Coradion melanopus Two-eyed coralfish Puerto Galera, Phillipines

FISH 7847 Coradion melanopus Two-eyed coralfish Puerto Galera, Phillipines.

Forcipiger flavissimus Longnose butterflyfish

Forcipiger flavissimus Longnose butterflyfish, Fiji

Forcipiger flavissimus Longnose butterflyfish, coral background, Fiji

Forcipiger flavissimus longnose butterflyfishbeing cleaned by juvenile Labroides dimidiatus cleaner wrasse. Fiji, 2005.

Forcipiger flavissimus longnose butterflyfishbeing solicited by juvenile Labroides dimidiatus cleaner wrasse, Fiji.

Forcipiger longirostris Big longnose butterflyfish

Forcipiger longirostris Big longnose butterflyfish Taveuni Fiji

FISH 3961 Forcipiger longirostris Big longnose butterflyfish Taveuni Fiji.

Forcipiger longirostris Big longnose butterflyfish Taveuni Fiji

FISH 3962 Forcipiger longirostris Big longnose butterflyfish Taveuni Fiji.

Hemitaurichthys polylepis Pyramid butterflyfish

Hemitaurichthys polylepis Pyramid butterflyfish, Cape Washington, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Heniochus chrysostomus Pennant bannerfish

Heniochus chrysostomus Pennant bannerfish. Fiji, 2005.

Heniochus chrysostomus Pennant bannerfish, lateral. Fiji, 2005.

Heniochus diphreutes Schooling bannerfish

Heniochus diphreutes Schooling bannerfish, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Heniochus diphreutes Schooling bannerfish. Large school, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Heniochus monoceros, Masked bannerfish

Heniochus monoceros, Masked bannerfish, Kadavu, Fiji, 2007.

Heniochus monoceros Masked Bannerfish, Fairy Grotto, GBR IMG_7904.jpg

FISH 7904 Heniochus monoceros Masked Bannerfish, Fairy Grotto, Great Barrier Reef

Heniochus singularis Singular bannerfish

photo of singular bannerfish

FISH 0194 Heniochus singularis Singular bannerfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Heniochus varius Humphead bannerfish

photo of humphead bannerfish

FISH 1145 Heniochus varius Humphead bannerfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Johnrandallia nigrirostris Barberfish

photo of barberfish

FISH 5034 Johnrandallia nigrirostris Barberfish, Sea of Cortez, Baja California.

Johnrandallia nigrirostris Barberfish Sea of Cortez

FISH 6178 Johnrandallia nigrirostris Barberfish Sea of Cortez

Johnrandallia nigrirostris Barberfish Sea of Cortez

FISH 6176 Johnrandallia nigrirostris Barberfish pair Sea of Cortez.

 

 

 

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