The members of the family Chaetodontidae, popularly know as butterflyfishes, coralfishes and bannerfishes. Most species of butterflyfish live in the warm tropical seas of the Indo-Pacific (about 90%) with the remainder in the Atlantic. Only a few species are found in subtropical waters, bordering onto subtemperate zones. The butterflyfish have a highly compressed body in which the back is raised , forming an elongate-oval to near circular shape in some; a small protactible mouth with brush-like teeth in the jaws; a continuous dorsal fin with strong and sharp spines in the anterior section, followed by a large-surface soft part; an anal fin mirroring the soft part of the dorsal fin , headed by 3-5 strong spines, of which the 2nd is often greatly enlarged.
Longnose Butterfly - Banded
01230
Butterflies
Longnose Butterfly - Banded
Chelmonops truncatus
Care:
IntermediateDiet:
OmnivorousLight:
MediumPlace of origin:
Coral SeaEastern Australia from southern Qld to southern NSW. Sheltered coastal reefs and deep rocky parts of estuaries. Adults to 70m depth, but juveniles often occur more shallow. Large adults in pairs, usually staying in close vicinity to each other. Small juveniles have a large round ocellus in the dorsal fin above the last dark band on the body, which fades away in the subadult stage. Length to 22cm.
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