CHAETODONTIDAE


Chaetodon collare
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Chaetodon collare
Bloch, 1787
Collare Butterflyfish

D XII, 25-28; A III, 20-22; P1 14-15; LLp 33-39; LR 37-40.

Snout short; predorsal contour steep and nearly straight, concave at nostrils. Lateral line incomplete. Caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded. Color: body tan, the edges of scales dark brown, thus forming dark oblique lines on body; head with a prominent white bar from dorsal-fin origin to chest; caudal fin red to bright orange with a whitish posterior margin and black submarginal band. Size: maximum length about 16 cm. Distribution: Central Indian Ocean and Indo-Malayan region, from southern coast of Oman, Maldives, and Andaman Sea to Timor, Moluccas and the Philippines. Remarks: inhabits coral reefs and rocky reefs at depths of 3-15 m. Forms pairs or small to large groups. Feeds on corals, worms, colonial sea anemone, and other invertebrates.