Rainford's Butterflyfish, Chaetodon rainfordi (McCulloch, 1923)

Scientific name: Chaetodon rainfordi
Rainford's Butterflyfish, <i>Chaetodon rainfordi</i> Click to enlarge image
A Rainford's Butterflyfish, Chaetodon rainfordi, at a depth of 15m Wheeler Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, November 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Chaetodon
    Species
    rainfordi
    Family
    Chaetodontidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 15 cm in length.

Introduction

Rainford's Butterflyfish can be recognised by its colouration. The species occurs from southern Papua New Guinea to southern Queensland.

Identification

Rainford's Butterflyfish can be recognised by its colouration. The fish is yellow with a dark-margined orange bar though the eye and a narrower orange bar through the pectoral base. There are two blue-grey bands with yellow-orange margins on the body.

Rainford's Butterflyfish
A Rainford's Butterflyfish at a depth of 10m Ribbon Reef #10, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, December 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Distribution

Rainford's Butterflyfish is known from marine waters of southern Papua New Guinea to southern Queensland.

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.

Feeding and diet

It eats algae and benthic invertebrates.

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.