Site navigation

ANIMAL SPECIES:Eight-banded Butterflyfish, Chaetodon octofasciatus (Bloch, 1787)

Add comment Add tags

The Eight-banded Butterflyfish has a yellow to white body with eight black bands. The fish occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific.

Identification

The Eight-banded Butterflyfish has a yellow to white body with eight black bands. It has a black stripe along the top of the snout and a clear caudal fin margin.

Size range

The species grows to 12 cm in length.

Distribution

The Eight-banded Butterflyfish is found in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia it is known only from offshore islands of north-western Western Australia.

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

The Eight-banded Butterflyfish eats coral polyps.

Classification

Species:
octofasciatus
Genus:
Chaetodon
Family:
Chaetodontidae
Order:
Perciformes
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. Allen, G.R. 1993. Reef Fishes of New Guinea. A Field Guide for Divers, Anglers and Naturalists. Christensen Research Institute. No. 8. Pp. 132.
  3. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 27 August 2009

Would you like to add a comment?

Sign up to add comments and find out more about the other benefits you can enjoy.

Forgotten your password?

Would you like to add a tag?

Sign up to add tags and find out more about the other benefits you can enjoy.

Forgotten your password?

what's on

Boy on bee
Amazing Backyard Adventures

05 Dec 09 18 Apr 10

What's on calendar

Support us

Help us continue to provide quality research, education, community programs and exhibitions.

Donate now

Online Shop

Featuring a selection of products relating to the collections.

Australian Museum Members

Join today to come to the Museum for free and enjoy many other benefits.

AMBS

Australian Museum Business Services - Ecological, archaeological and heritage consulting.

Museum as a Venue

We have many unique venues ideal for dinner, cocktails, weddings and conferences.