Threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Chaetodon auriga
- Common name
- Threadfin butterflyfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Genus
- Chaetodon
- Size
- 15–23 cm
- Depth
- 1–60 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, pair
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Chaetodon auriga reaches 23 cm. White to yellow body with 10-12 thin diagonal dark lines forming chevrons, large yellow area on rear body, black eye band, characteristic thread-like dorsal streamer extending as ponytail (hence threadfin). Lives from 1 to 60 m on coral and rocky reefs of entire tropical Indo-Pacific (Red Sea to Hawaii). Opportunistic, feeds on polyps, worms and algae. Often in pairs. Classic photo subject of Red Sea safaris.
Photo of Threadfin butterflyfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Threadfin butterflyfish?
- Threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) reaches 15–23 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Threadfin butterflyfish?
- Threadfin butterflyfish is found between 1–60 m deep.
- Is the Threadfin butterflyfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Threadfin butterflyfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Threadfin butterflyfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Chaetodon
- Chaetodon sedentarius - Reef butterflyfish
- Chaetodon ocellatus - Spotfin butterflyfish
- Chaetodon fasciatus - Diagonal butterflyfish
- Chaetodon semilarvatus - Bluecheek butterflyfish
- Chaetodon humeralis - Threebanded butterflyfish
- Chaetodon lunula - Raccoon butterflyfish
Other species in the family Chaetodontidae
- Forcipiger flavissimus - Longnose butterflyfish
- Johnrandallia nigrirostris - Barberfish
- Heniochus diphreutes - Schooling bannerfish
- Heniochus varius - Humphead bannerfish
- Forcipiger longirostris - Longnose Butterflyfish
- Prognathodes falcifer - Falcate Coralfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 218730)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2385390)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia