The Indian butterflyfish (Chaetodon mitratus), also known as the headband butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish from the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Indian Ocean.
| Indian butterflyfish | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Family: | Chaetodontidae |
| Genus: | Chaetodon |
| Subgenus: | Rhombochaetodon |
| Species: | C. mitratus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Chaetodon mitratus Günther, 1860
| |
Description
editThe Indian butterflyfish has a yellow body which has two broad, black oblique bands which run across the flanks.[2] There is a black eye band which shades to orange below the eye.[3] The pelvic fins, dorsal, anal and caudal fins are yellow.[2] The dorsal fin contains 8 spines and 18–20 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 14–15 soft rays. This species attains a maximum standard length of 14 centimetres (5.5 in).[4]
Distribution
editThe Indian butterflyfish has a scattered distribution across the Indian Ocean and has been recorded from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in Australia, the Maldives Islands, Mauritius, Réunion, Amirante Islands and Cosmoledo Island in the Seychelles and the Chagos Archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory.[1]
Habitat and biology
editThe Indian butterflyfish is a species of relatively deep water, living at depths between 22 and 80 metres (72 and 262 ft), commonly at 50 to 68 metres (164 to 223 ft). It has been encountered in small groups of up to 5 individuals on the steep outer drop-offs of reefs, in rubble areas and among areas where black coral and sea fans grow. It is an oviparous species which forms pairs to breed.[4] This species feeds on zooplankton and benthic invertebrates.[1]
Taxonomy
editThe Indian butterflyfish was first formally described in 1860 by the German-born British zoologist Albert Günther (1830–1914) with the type locality given as Mauritius.[5]
Utilisation
editThe Indian butterflyfish commands a high price in the aquarium trade because this deep water species is infrequently collected.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Pyle, R.; Myers, R.F.; Rocha, L.A.; Craig, M.T. (2010). "Chaetodon mitratus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T165666A6085100. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165666A6085100.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ a b Bob Goemans (2012). "Chaetodon mitratus". Saltcorner. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ Bray, D.J. (2015). "Chaetodon mitratus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Chaetodon mitratus". FishBase. December 2019 version.
- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Chaetodon". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 4 December 2020.