Butterfly Fish

Nature 4 Minutes

The butterfly fish are a group of tropical marine fish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. There are approximately 129 species of butterfly fish that are mostly found on the reefs of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Butterflyfish look like smaller versions of angelfish (Pomacanthidae), but lack preopercle spines at the gill covers.

Thanks to their beautiful colors and patterns and docile personality, many butterfly fish are popular aquarium fish, and they are often found as pets. The name Chaetodontidae is a combination of two Ancient Greek words: chaite, meaning hair, and odontos, meaning tooth. This is probably a reference to the rows of brush-like teeth in these fishes’ mouths.

This Chaetodontidae family should not be confused with the freshwater butterfly fish (also known as the African butterfly fish). Endemic to the West African region, the freshwater butterfly fish belongs to an entirely different order. The freshwater butterfly fish is more closely related to other African fish in the order of Osteoglossiformes.

Butterfly Fish Characteristics

Butterfly fish are closely related to angelfish and both groups are collectively known as coralfish. Butterfly fish are small fish and most do not exceed 12 to 22 9.7 to 8.7 inches in length. The largest of the species is the lined butterfly fish (Chaetodon lineolatus) and the saddle butterfly fish (Chaetodon ephippium) which grows to 12 inches in length. Butterfly fish are, in general, sexually monomorphic (meaning males and females look alike), although occasionally males have been found to be larger than females.

These fish are named for their brightly colored and strikingly patterned bodies, in shades of black, white, blue, red, orange and yellow. Some species are dull in color. Like patterns seen on butterfly wings, many of the species have eyespots on their flanks and dark bands across their eyes. Their coloration makes them popular aquarium fish, and as they are relatively small, they don’t need a large fish tank to house them.

Butterfly fish have uninterrupted dorsal fins with tail fins that may be rounded or truncated, but are never forked. The dorsal fin on the back sometimes features sharp spines which provide a defense against potential predators.

Their bodies are deep and laterally compressed, which allows them to slip between rocky outcroppings and reef crevices. This, combined with their bright colors, has lead many to believe they are intended for interspecies communication.

These fish also have a protruding snout, varying in length depending on the species, that is tipped with a small mouth. This extended snout allows them to reach inside cracks and holes to feed small organisms hiding within.

Lifespan

Butterfly fish have an average lifespan of between 5 and 10 years.

Diet

Butterfly fish eat mostly small invertebrates such as sponges, worms and plankton.
They’ll also eat coral polyps, algae and sea anemones. They feed during the day, at the bottom layer of the seabed.

Behavior

Butterfly fish are diurnal animals, which means they are active and feed during the day
and rest on the coral during the night. At night, butterfly fish hide in reef
crevices and their colors can fade to blend and avoid predation.

The smaller species of butterfly fish tend to stay in groups, whereas the larger species
are usually solitary or swim with their mating partner, with whom they mate for
life. The butterfly fish relies on its sight to find prey and communicate with
others.

Reproduction

Butterfly fish are specific about the time of year that they mate; in the tropics, the spawning season usually peaks in winter or early spring, but in temperate climates, the spawning season takes place in the summer.

When the female is ready to mate, her stomach becomes swollen with eggs. The male will come up from behind and gently nudge her abdomen with its snout, and they will release the eggs and sperm together, creating a white cloud in the water. Some males without a mate may swim in and quickly add his sperm to the cloud!

Gestation is only 28 to 30 hours. Butterfly fish play no part in raising their young and instead, the young have a unique larval stage in which they develop a plate of bony armor over the head to protect themselves. This plate eventually extends outward along the back to form spines, which are eventually absorbed into the body.

The young butterfly fish enters a juvenile stage when it has reached the size of a coin, during which period it exhibits different color patterns from its adult form. Juveniles will live within small tidal pools or shallow areas temporarily before moving to the corals.

Butterfly fish form monogamous pairs for at least three years and sometimes even their entire lives. They reach sexual maturity at around a year old.

Location and Habitat

Butterfly fish are mostly found in the coral reefs of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, in temperate, tropical and subtropical waters. The greatest concentration of species is found in a stretch of Pacific territory between Australia and Taiwan. Only four species occur in the Eastern Pacific and 13 in the Atlantic Ocean.

Their preferred habitat is the shallow warm water less than 65 feet deep near shores or estuaries, but a few species reside in deep water habitats up to 650 feet. They are well adapted to life in coral reef systems, though a few species also inhabit seagrass beds, lagoons, and mudflats. Young butterfly fish may occupy different areas than adults, such as tidal pools, boulder reefs and shallow areas without coral.

Conservation Status

The exact population of the butterfly fish is unknown, but it is one of the most most common types of coral reef fish in the world. The species is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. That being said, they do face threats. The biggest threat to these fish is the destruction of the coral reefs.

The butterfly fish is never caught for food, but it is popular in the exotic pet trade. These animals can make good pets, but they have very specific requirements that can be demanding for the average fish owner.

Predators

The butterfly fish is preyed on by sharks, eels, snappers, and other large fish. Because they are very small, they have the ability to hide in small crevices around coral reefs. Many of the species have also evolved spines, armor, and toxins to deal with threats from predators.

SOURCE: ANIMALCORNER.ORG

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Published by pat frederick

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177 thoughts on “Butterfly Fish”

    1. Nope, altho I saw something briefly earlier on Fox advertising an interview with Bergrum and altho I can’t remember the exact wording, it made him sound like the chosen nominee…that led me to a frantic search to back it up. Nothing, thankfully!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. “The British South American Airlines Avro Lancastrian known as “Stardust” that went missing on its flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Santiago, Chile, in 1947 and wasn’t found until 1998.”

    “Mysteries
    What did the crew of BSAA Flight CS-59 mean when they sent and repeated the cryptic message “STENDEC” via Morse code seconds before crashing?

    Background
    On August 2, 1947, the crew of a British South American Airways (BSAA) Lancastrian, an airliner version of the Avro Lancaster WWII bomber, sent a cryptic message. Operating as Flight CS-59, aka “Star Dust,” the four-engine aircraft was en route from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Santiago, Chile, with 11 people on board. At 5:41 p.m., a Chilean Morse code radio operator for the Los Cerrillos Airport received a message.

    “ETA Santiago 17:45 hrs. STENDEC.”

    The operator understood that Star Dust intended to land in four minutes, but the final word, “STENDEC,” confused him. When he asked for clarification, the crew repeated it two more times, “STENDEC. STENDEC.” It would be the last anyone ever heard from Star Dust. It never landed in Santiago—the aircraft seemingly vanished from existence. Its fate became one of the most puzzling aviation mysteries of its time.

    The public, still reeling from the now-famous “flying saucer” incident in Roswell, New Mexico, a few weeks earlier, went wild with theories, speculating everything from sabotage to alien abduction. It even inspired a new name for a UFO magazine—STENDEK.

    It wasn’t until 1998 that a group of Argentine mountaineers climbing Mount Tupungato, approximately 50 miles east of Santiago, stumbled upon wreckage from the crash. Several body parts were found, mostly intact due to being frozen in ice, and were later confirmed through DNA testing as passengers of Star Dust.

    Investigators concluded that the crew, flying in a snowstorm against a powerful jet stream, had become confused about their location and believed they were closer to Santiago than they actually were. The crash was a result of controlled descent into terrain.

    While the fate of Star Dust had finally been solved, remaining in its wake was still the mystery of the crew’s final message—STENDEC. What was radio operator Dennis Harmer, a highly trained wartime and civilian operator, trying to say? Could there be more to the story of Star Dust’s crash?…”

    https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article/a-pilots-last-words-stendec/

    EXCERPT: “……Although no one can say for certain what STENDEC means, it is nowadays thought by some that the word was an acronym for: “Severe Turbulence Encountered, Now Descending, Emergency Crash-landing,” a Morse code acronym used by World War II pilots.”

    https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/02/05/stendec-mystery/

    Liked by 1 person

  8. “People watching last night’s presidential debate aboard a Delta Airlines flight to Miami on June 27, 2024. I gotta wonder if there was applause at any time during the flight…”

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Julie Kelly

    @julie_kelly2

    Second–and this is huge and an issue I’ve covered in the past but haven’t been able to update yet–Cannon is taking on Howell’s clearly political ruling to pierce atty-client privilege amid alleged proof that Trump’s lawyer, Evan Corcoran, was used to advance a crime committed by his client. Jack Smith sought the piercing of privilege just weeks after being appointed special counsel. Howell, an Obama appointee who makes her contempt for Trump well known, was only too happy to oblige. Corcoran then had to testify before the DC grand jury and produce all of his notes including recordings. Cannon wants the full record behind Howell’s decision and to hold a hearing related to the process. She has made several public comments expressing her frustration that most of the DOJ’s investigation in the docs case occurred in DC rather than southern Florida. Getting favorable rulings by Howell is why. And the DC court is still concealing the records including GJ transcripts.

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  10. Yeah! NCPPD, my power company, is going to trim the weeping willow tree in front and the bigger of the 2 spruce trees on the west since they are getting close to the power lines. I’ve been watching the willow tree and every year, I wish I could climb up there and do it, then I decide…”Nah – the city will do it if it starts interfering” and here we are!

    I’ve racked my brain to find a way to get the city to take down the cottonwood tree. It is right next to what is technically, on the city map, a public-access alley behind the houses to the west on 4th street, immediately next to the tree. But it’s not busy enough so I know they’d never agree. There are only 5 properties on the alley, including mine!

    Talk about see-saw weather! The wind has dropped again, sun is out again and it’s heating up….again! SMH – 87 now!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. “Nicely focused portrait of a 49’er”

    “Ancient Bulletin Board”

    “Queen of the burning sands….”

    “Dropping by for a drink…”

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I’ll believe it when i see it
    DC_Draino
    @DC_Draino
    Did you miss it?

    Speaker Johnson confirmed his support of FL Rep. @realannapaulina
    ’s motion to hold Merrick Garland in Inherent Contempt where the House Sergeant-at-Arms can arrest him

    This is no longer a pipe dream

    This is now likely going to happen

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

    Like

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