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Tahiti butterflyfish (Chaetodon trichrous) — Chaetodontidae

Tahiti butterflyfish

Chaetodon trichrous

The Tahiti butterflyfish (Chaetodon trichrous) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–25.0 m
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Tahiti butterflyfish is a butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) from the southeast Pacific, around French Polynesia. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a deep, laterally compressed, disc-shaped body with a small, pointed mouth. The body is drab-brown with a yellow tinge and a dark eye band. 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 Tahiti butterflyfish?

The Tahiti butterflyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Tahiti butterflyfish live?

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

How big does the Tahiti butterflyfish get?

The Tahiti butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Tahiti butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Tahiti butterflyfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Tahiti butterflyfish edible?

Yes, the Tahiti butterflyfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tahiti-koraalvlinder sourced
English name
Tahiti butterflyfish sourced
Scientific name
Chaetodon trichrous
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Tahitian butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 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
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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