Banded Butterflyfish
Chaetodon striatus
Threadfin butterflyfish
Chaetodon auriga
About
The threadfin butterflyfish trails a fine filament from its dorsal fin like a loose thread, giving it its name. It is one of the most widely distributed butterflyfish in the Indo-Pacific.
Also known as: diagonal butterflyfish, whip butterflyfish, threadfin, diagonal butterflyfish, yellow butterflyfish, threadfin coralfish, threadfin butterfly, threadfin butterflyfish, threadfin butterflyfish, threadfin coralfish, thread-fin butterfly-fish
- Length
- 23 cm
- Depth
- up to 60 m
How to tell it apart
Many butterflyfish share chevron markings and an eye band. But the long filament trailing from its black dorsal spot is unique to this species - the mark to look for.
Appearance
Its body is white with chevron-shaped markings on the sides, bright yellow fins, and a black vertical band running through the eye. Near the rear of the dorsal fin sits a prominent black spot, with a long thread-like filament trailing from the fin behind it. A patch of dark diagonal lines crosses the belly. It grows up to 23 cm. Fish from the Red Sea lack the dorsal spot; those from elsewhere usually have it.
Habitat
It lives across a wide range of reef types, from rich coral reef to weedy, rubble-covered ground, from close to the surface down to about 60 m.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
