Chaetodon melannotus

(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Vernacular names
English : Blackback butterflyfish
French : Poisson papillon à dos noir

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Acanthuriformes (sometimes still Perciformes)
Family : Chaetodontidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species can reach 18 cm. Fins and face bright yellow with thin vertical black band on head. Flanks white to light grey-white with diagonal thin black lines merging into black upper flanks. Black dots on belly. Black ring on tail peduncle.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from the Red Sea and east Africa to Samoa, north to south Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. Lives in coral-rich areas of lagoons, reef flats and seaward reefs, to 25 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a huge range and still seems to be common. Declines have been observed in areas experiencing coral bleaching events.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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