Triangular Butterflyfish

Scientific Name: Chaetodon triangulum
Species: Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae)
Other names: Coralfishes, Triangulum Butterfly, Triangulum Butterflyfish, Triangular Butterfly, Triangle Butterflyfish, Triangle Butterfly, Triangulate Butterfly, Herringbone Butterflyfish.

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Triangular Butterflyfish

Uploaded by: @fishx6 in March 2008
Photographed at: - Maldives
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Triangular Butterflyfish

Uploaded by: @fishx6 in August 2007
Photographed at: Gan - Maldives
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Triangular Butterflyfish

Uploaded by: @fishx6 in June 2010
Photographed at: Mirihi Island Resort - Maldives
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Description

Also known as Coralfishes, Triangulum Butterfly, Triangulum Butterflyfish, Triangular Butterfly, Triangle Butterflyfish, Triangle Butterfly, Triangulate Butterfly and Herringbone Butterflyfish.

Found usually in pairs in shallow lagoons and seaward reefs usually near Acropora plate coral.
Juveniles in branching corals.
They feed on coral polyps, tentacles of featherdusters and Christmas-tree worms.
Length - 16cm
Depth - 2-25m
Widespread Indian Ocean

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.