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Australian Wildlife

  Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)





Threadfin Butterflyfish | Chaetodon auriga photo
Threadfin butterflyfish. Underwater photograph, Pemba island, Tanzania, Africa

Image by Bernard E. Picton - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

Threadfin Butterflyfish | Chaetodon auriga photo
Threadfin butterflyfish. Underwater photograph, Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, Africa

Image by Bernard E. Picton - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)

Threadfin Butterflyfish | Chaetodon auriga photo
Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga), Kona, Hawaii

Image by Clark Anderson/Aquaimages. - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)







FISH FACTS

Description
The Threadfin Butterflyfish is white with chevron-shaped markings on the body and a long trailing filament from the dorsal fin of adults. The rear of the body and tail is yellow. There is a black spot at the rear of the dorsal fin and adults have a broad vertical black band through the eye.

Size
length to 23cm

Habitat
coral reefs, weedy areas, rubble covered areas. Found singly or in pairs, or feeding in groups. Depth range 1m - 35m.

Food
polychaetes, sea anemones, coral polyps, algae

Breeding
Oviparous. Forms pairs during breeding.

Range
The Threadfin Butterflyfish is found in coral reef and inshore waters of the Indo-west and Central Pacific. In Australia it is found from south-western Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and south to the southern coast of New South Wales.



Classification
Class:Actinopterygii
Order:Perciformes
Family:Chaetodontidae
Genus:Chaetodon
Species:auriga
Common Name:Threadfin Butterflyfish

Relatives in same Genus
  Eastern Triangular Butterflyfish (C. baronessa)
  Bennett's Butterflyfish (C. bennetti)
  Speckled Butterflyfish (C. citrinellus)
  Saddled Butterflyfish (C. ephippium)
  Dusky Butterflyfish (C. flavirostris)
  Klein's Butterflyfish (C. kleinii)
  Redfin Butterflyfish (C. lunulatus)
  Eight-banded Butterflyfish (C. octofasciatus)
  Ornate Butterflyfish (C. ornatissimus)
  Latticed Butterflyfish (C. rafflesii)
  Dotted Butterflyfish (C. semeion)
  Oval-spot Butterflyfish (C. speculum)
  Chevroned Butterflyfish (C. trifascialis)
  Double-saddle Butterflyfish (C. ulietensis)
  Teardrop Butterflyfish (C. unimaculatus)
  Vagabond Butterflyfish (C. vagabundus)