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Black butterflyfish (Chaetodon flavirostris) — Chaetodontidae

Black butterflyfish

Chaetodon flavirostris
LC · Least Concern

The Black butterflyfish (Chaetodon flavirostris) is a brackish-water fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
2.0–30.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The dusky butterflyfish is a butterflyfish from the southwest Pacific, around Australia and the islands of Oceania. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a mostly dark, almost black body with yellow bands on the head and yellow fin margins. As a reef-dweller it searches in pairs over rocky and coral reefs for algae, small invertebrates and polyps. The fish is harmless to humans and appears in the reef aquarium. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Black butterflyfish?

The Black butterflyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly black and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Black butterflyfish live?

The Black butterflyfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Black butterflyfish get?

The Black butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Black butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Black butterflyfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Black butterflyfish edible?

The Black butterflyfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwarte koraalvlinder verified
English name
Black butterflyfish verified
Scientific name
Chaetodon flavirostris
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Black butterflyfish; Dusky butterflyfish; Yellow-faced butterfly-fish; Yellowsnout butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Black inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Chaetodon

More from the family Chaetodontidae

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