Animal Species:Bennett's Butterflyfish, Chaetodon bennetti Cuvier, 1831

Bennett's Butterflyfish can be recognised by its distinctive colouration. It is found throughout much of the Indo-West Pacific.

A Bennett's Butterflyfish

A Bennett's Butterflyfish
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Identification

Bennett's Butterflyfish can be recognised by its distinctive colouration. It is yellow with light blue bands curving across the lower sides of the body. A blue-edged black bar passes through the eye.

Size range

The species grows to 20 cm in length.

Distribution

Bennett's Butterflyfish is found throughout much of the Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia it is recorded from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and from the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Chaetodon bennetti

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Bennett's Butterflyfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Feeding and Diet

The species eats coral polyps.

Classification

Species:
bennetti
Genus:
Chaetodon
Family:
Chaetodontidae
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


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Tags yellow, white, brown, Chaetodon bennetti, Bennett's Butterflyfish, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, stripes or bands, offshore reefs, coral, marine, adult, black spot,