Reef butterflyfish (Chaetodon sedentarius)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Chaetodon sedentarius
- Common name
- Reef butterflyfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Chaetodontidae
- Genus
- Chaetodon
- Size
- 8–15 cm
- Depth
- 3–90 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef
- Behaviours
- pair-bonding
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Chaetodon sedentarius reaches 15 cm. Small butterflyfish with a yellow-cream to white body, wide vertical black band crossing the caudal peduncle and rising onto the dorsal fin, black eye bar. More discreet and deeper than its Caribbean cousins: down to 90 m. Lives in faithful pairs on Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico coral drop-offs. Feeds on invertebrates and polyps.
Photo of Reef butterflyfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Reef butterflyfish?
- Reef butterflyfish (Chaetodon sedentarius) reaches 8–15 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Reef butterflyfish?
- Reef butterflyfish is found between 3–90 m deep.
- Is the Reef butterflyfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Reef butterflyfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Reef butterflyfish?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Chaetodon
- Chaetodon ocellatus - Spotfin butterflyfish
- Chaetodon fasciatus - Diagonal 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 234107)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2385404)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia