ANIMAL SPECIES:Merten's Butterflyfish, Chaetodon mertensii (Cuvier, 1831)
Merten's Butterflyfish is most easily recognised by its distinctive colouration. It is white with 6-7 black chevron-shaped markings on the body. The posterior portion of the body and dorsal, anal and caudal fins are yellow-orange. There is a black, silver-edged bar through they eye and a dark mark on the nape.
Identification
Merten's Butterflyfish is most easily recognised by its distinctive colouration. It is white with 6-7 black chevron-shaped markings on the body. The posterior portion of the body and dorsal, anal and caudal fins are yellow-orange. There is a black, silver-edged bar through they eye and a dark mark on the nape.
Merten's Butterflyfish grows to 12.5 cm in length.
Distribution
It is a marine species that is widely distributed through the Indo-West Pacific.
In Australia it is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef south to the central coast of New South Wales.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
It eats algae and bottom-dwelling invertebrates.
Classification
- Species:
- mertensii
- Genus:
- Chaetodon
- Family:
- Chaetodontidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- 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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A Merten's Butterflyfish at 'Steve's Bommie' View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
A Merten's Butterflyfish at Bougainville Reef View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
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