Diagonal butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Chaetodon fasciatus
- Common name
- Diagonal butterflyfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Genus
- Chaetodon
- Size
- 12–22 cm
- Depth
- 1–30 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef
- Behaviours
- pair-bonding, diurnal
- Ocean zones
- Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Chaetodon fasciatus reaches 22 cm. Deep bright-yellow body adorned with characteristic parallel black diagonal stripes, vertical black bar through the eye. Endemic to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Lives in faithful pairs on coral reefs between 1 and 30 m. Feeds on coral polyps, small invertebrates and algae. One of the most iconic and photogenic butterflyfishes of the Red Sea.
Photo of Diagonal butterflyfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Diagonal butterflyfish?
- Diagonal butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus) reaches 12–22 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Diagonal butterflyfish?
- Diagonal butterflyfish is found between 1–30 m deep.
- Is the Diagonal butterflyfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Diagonal butterflyfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Diagonal butterflyfish?
- Found in: Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Chaetodon
- Chaetodon sedentarius - Reef butterflyfish
- Chaetodon ocellatus - Spotfin butterflyfish
- Chaetodon semilarvatus - Bluecheek butterflyfish
- Chaetodon humeralis - Threebanded butterflyfish
- Chaetodon auriga - Threadfin 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 218737)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2385538)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia