Description
Also known as Acropora Butterfly, Acropora Butterflyfish, Chevroned Butterflyfish, Coralfish, Oval Butterflyfish, Redfin Butterflyfish, Right-angle Butterflyfish, Right-angled Butterflyfish, Triangulate Butterflyfish, V-Line Butterflyfish, V-Lined Butterflyfish.
Found singly, or in pairs, protecting their territory, close to Acropora corals, over shallow, semi-protected lagoons, and seaward reefs.
They feed on the mucus and polyps of Acropora corals.
Juveniles secretive in the arms of branching corals.
Length - 18cm
Depth - 2-25m
Widespread Indo-Pacific
Butterflyfishes have very fine hair like teeth that enable them to pick out small organisms inaccessible to most other fish for eating.
They thrive mainly on a diet of coral polyps, tentacles of featherdusters and Christmas-tree worms. As these food sources all zap back into their shells, 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. Ref: https://www.fishbase.in/summary/5578
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