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Brown-and-white butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys zoster) — Chaetodontidae

Brown-and-white butterflyfish

Hemitaurichthys zoster

The Brown-and-white butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys zoster) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–40.0 m
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The brown-and-white butterflyfish is a butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) from the Indian Ocean. The species grows to about 18 cm and has a dark-brown to black body with a conspicuous broad white, pyramid-shaped band across the middle. Unlike many relatives it swarms in large schools in open water along steep reef slopes and picks zooplankton from the current. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Brown-and-white butterflyfish?

The Brown-and-white butterflyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly black.

Where does the Brown-and-white butterflyfish live?

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

How big does the Brown-and-white butterflyfish get?

The Brown-and-white butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Brown-and-white butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Brown-and-white butterflyfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwarte piramide-koraalvlinder sourced
English name
Brown-and-white butterflyfish sourced
Scientific name
Hemitaurichthys zoster
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Black pyramid butterflyfish; Brown-and-white butterflyfish; Brushtooth butterflyfish; Pyramid butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Black sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

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 Hemitaurichthys

More from the family Chaetodontidae

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