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Tinker's butterflyfish (Chaetodon tinkeri) — Chaetodontidae

Tinker's butterflyfish

Chaetodon tinkeri

The Tinker's butterflyfish (Chaetodon tinkeri) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
27.0–180.0 m
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Tinker's butterflyfish is a butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) from the central Pacific, around Hawaii. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a deep, laterally compressed, disc-shaped body with a small, pointed mouth. The lower half is white and the upper half black-spotted, with a yellow snout; it lives on deeper reefs. 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 Tinker's butterflyfish?

The Tinker's butterflyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly white and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Tinker's butterflyfish live?

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

How big does the Tinker's butterflyfish get?

The Tinker's butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Tinker's butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

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

Is the Tinker's butterflyfish edible?

Yes, the Tinker's butterflyfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tinkers koraalvlinder sourced
English name
Tinker's butterflyfish sourced
Scientific name
Chaetodon tinkeri
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Tinker's butterfly; Tinker's butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
27.0 verified
Max depth (m)
180.0 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
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. 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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