Description

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

Found in pairs, protecting their territory, close to Acropora corals, in lagoons and seaward reefs rich in coral growth.
They feed on coral polyps.
Juveniles found in branching corals.
Length - 15cm
Depth - 0-25m
Widespread Indian Ocean

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.se/summary/7805