CHAETODONTIDAE


Chaetodon auriga
(photo by Ashley J. Boyd)


Chaetodon auriga
Forsskål, 1775
Threadfin Butterflyfish

D XII-XIII, 22-25; A III, 18-21; P1 14-15; LLp 29-40; LR 33-43.

Snout moderate, pointed; predorsal contour nearly straight, concave above nostril. Lateral line incomplete. Fourth to sixth dorsal soft rays prolonged to posteriorly-directed filament; caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded. Color: body white with 2 sets of diagonal blackish lines perpendicular to each other, shading posteriorly to orange-yellow; a black spot present in outer part of sort portion of dorsal fin; a black bar through eye, very broad below eye and faint above eye. Size: maximum length about 23 cm. Distribution: Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and Red Sea to Polynesia. Remarks: inhabits a variety of habitats ranging from rich coral reefs, to weed and rubble covered areas at depths of 3-20 m. Found solitary, in pairs, or in aggregations. Feeds on corals and other small invertebrates.