Lined Butterflyfish

Lined butterflyfish may grow up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long, which among Chaetodon is matched only by the saddle butterflyfish (C. ephippium), making them about as big as dinner plates. They are white in color, with thin black vertical bars which join a thick black band at the base of the tail and dorsal fin. The tail, dorsal, and anal fins are yellow.

The species occurs along the east coast of Africa including the Red Sea and Mozambique Channel, throughout Northern Australia including the Coral Sea, Gulf of Carpentaria, and Timor Sea, and throughout West Indo-Pacific including the Java Sea, South China Sea, Philippine Sea, and Celebes Sea. This uncommon fish is found in pairs or swimming alone, or occasionally in spawning aggregations. It occurs between 2 and 50 m depth, in coral-rich areas of reefs and lagoons.

Coral polyps, small anemones, algae and invertebrates make up the lined butterflyfish's diet. It is known to be territorial. This territorialism is connected to their highly specific feeding habits that is located on certain areas. The species can reach an age of up to ten years.

Development. Larvae of fish in the family Chaetodontidae have a random distribution pattern causing them to settle either in the same habitats as adult conspecifics; habitats with high coral cover; or habitats completely different from those used by adult conspecifics. Juveniles that are not in an adult habitat live in their current habitat until reaching maturity. Once they reached post-settlement growth of greater than 100 mm, they migrate to adult habitats if they are not already in that environment.

Reproduction. Very little is known about the spawning of butterflyfish as a whole, however it is believed that they spawn near their feeding habitats during new moon. The lined butterflyfish mates in lifelong monogamous relationships. However, the male chooses to either stay with its one mate or leave and find another mate. This appears to maximize their fecundity. Lined butterflyfish are social maters, meaning they spend time with their mate outside of just spawning often living together in the same habitat. The species however exhibits little to no parental care to their young.

Predation. …