Home · Chaetodontidae · Dot and dash butterflyfish
Dot and dash butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis) — Chaetodontidae

Dot and dash butterflyfish

Chaetodon pelewensis
LC · Least Concern

The Dot and dash butterflyfish (Chaetodon pelewensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
12.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The dot-and-dash butterflyfish is a small butterflyfish from the western and central Pacific. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a white to yellowish, disc-shaped body with diagonal rows of dark dots and dashes and a yellow-orange rear body with a dark eye band. It lives on coral-rich reefs to about 30 metres depth and feeds on coral polyps and small invertebrates. It usually lives in pairs. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dot and dash butterflyfish?

The Dot and dash butterflyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Dot and dash butterflyfish live?

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

How big does the Dot and dash butterflyfish get?

The Dot and dash butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Dot and dash butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Dot and dash butterflyfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Dot and dash butterflyfish edible?

The Dot and dash butterflyfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Stippellijn-koraalvlinder verified
English name
Dot and dash butterflyfish verified
Scientific name
Chaetodon pelewensis
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Dot-and-dash butterflyfish; Dot-and-dash coralfish; Dot-dash butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold inferred
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore 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
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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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