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Meyer's butterflyfish (Chaetodon meyeri) — Chaetodontidae

Meyer's butterflyfish

Chaetodon meyeri

The Meyer's butterflyfish (Chaetodon meyeri) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–25.0 m
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Meyer's butterflyfish is a butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a deep, laterally compressed, disc-shaped body with a small, pointed mouth. The blue-white body bears striking, curved black diagonal bands. As a reef-dweller it searches coral and rocky reefs for coral polyps, small invertebrates and algae; many species live in pairs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Meyer's butterflyfish?

The Meyer's butterflyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly white and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Meyer's butterflyfish live?

The Meyer's butterflyfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Meyer's butterflyfish get?

The Meyer's butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Meyer's butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Meyer's butterflyfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Meyer's butterflyfish edible?

Yes, the Meyer's butterflyfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Meyers koraalvlinder sourced
English name
Meyer's butterflyfish sourced
Scientific name
Chaetodon meyeri
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Meyer's butterfly; Meyer's butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 verified

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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