Reticulated Butterflyfish

Scientific Name: Chaetodon reticulatus
Species: Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae)
Other names: Coralfishes, Reticulated Butterfly, Mailed Butterflyfish, Mailed Coralfish.

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Reticulated Butterflyfish

Uploaded by: @fishx6 in July 2009
Photographed at: Cod Hole - Great Barrier Reef - Australia
Caption: No caption available
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Description

Also known as Coralfishes, Reticulated Butterfly, Mailed Butterflyfish and Mailed Coralfish.

Found singly in pairs or small groups on exposed outer reefs and sometimes in shallow lagoons with rich coral growth.
They feed on coral polyps, tentacles of featherdusters and Christmas-tree worms.
Length - 16cm
Depth - 5-30m
Widespread Pacific

Butterflyfish and angelfish are members of the bristletooth family (Chaetodontidae) they have very fine hairlike teeth that enable them to pick out small organisms inaccessible to most other fish for eating.
Butterflyfishes thrive on a diet of coral polyps, tentacles of featherdusters and Christmas-tree worms. As these food sources all zap back into their shells the butterflyfishes need to be able to hover motionless while picking at the coral and to dart swiftly over short distances to get the worm before it retracts. They do this by using their Pectoral fins as oars to brake, sprint, turn and even reverse.

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