Eightband
butterflyfish
Chaetodon octofasciatus
Family Chaetodontidae
updated
Sep 2020
Where
seen? This disc-shaped fish with eight bars is sometimes seen on some of our Southern shores among
live corals.
Features: To about 12cm. Body
flat, circular disk-shaped, snout slightly pointed. 8 black bands, sometimes a broad black horizontal bar between the middle narrow bars, sometimes yellowish or brownish between 2 pair of bands nearer the tail. Yellow pectoral fins, yellowish base of fins, belly and mouth. White-ringed black spot at the base of the tail. Juveniles often seen in
groups among branching corals such as Acropora
corals. Adults seen in pairs. |
Sisters Island, Dec 10 |
Tanah Merah, Jun 10
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr. |
Tanah Merah, Jun 10
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr. |
What
does it eat? According to FishBase, it eats only coral polyps. But the IUCN Red
List says there are currently no data on its diet, but it is strongly
coral dependent.
Status and threats: Unfortunately
these beautiful fishes are popular in the live aquarium trade although
they are considered difficult to keep and feed. It is said it often
starves to death when in captivity. |
| Eightband
butterflyfishes on Singapore shores |
| Other sightings on Singapore shores |
Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Jun 15
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook. |
East Coast (PCN), Aug 22
Photo shared by Che Cheng Neo on facebook. |
|
Kusu Island, Sep 23
Photo shared by Tommy Arden on facebook. |
Young one?
Cyrene, Apr 24
Photo shared by Kelvin Yong on facebook. |
|
Beting Bemban Besar, Jun 15
Photo shared by Russel Low on facebook. |
Terumbu Pempang Tengah, May 12
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr. |
|
Raffles Lighthouse, Nov 16
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook. |
Raffles Lighthouse, Jan 22
Photo shared by Dayna Cheah on facebook. |
Pulau Sudong, Dec 09
Photo shared by Toh Chay Hoon on her
flickr. |
Links
References
- Kuiter, Rudie
H. 2002. Guide
to Sea Fishes of Australia: A Comprehensive Reference for Divers
& Fishermen New Holland Publishers. 434pp.
- Lieske,
Ewald and Robert Myers. 2001. Coral
Reef Fishes of the World Periplus Editions. 400pp.
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