Chaetodon speculum

(Cuvier, 1831)

Vernacular names
English : Mirror butterflyfish
French : Poisson papillon à miroir

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

Identification
The species grows to 18 cm in length. Body mostly bright yellow with black band on face. Big black blotch with indistinct edges on top half of flanks. Nearby flanks are darker (more orange), becoming yellow near head and belly.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from Sumatra and Christmas island to Tonga, north to south Japan, south to Lord Howe island. Lives in coral-rich areas of lagoons and outer reefs, down to 30 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a large range. It is dependent on corals for its survival and habitat loss could become a major threat.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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