Pebbled butterflyfish
Encyclopedia
Pebbled butterflyfish are marine, perciform fish often found near reefs. They are at most 12 centimetres (4.7 in) in length, and white with yellow, brown, and black markings. These butterflyfish are territorial and form pairs. The pebbled butterflyfish occur near reefs in the eastern central Pacific, and are endemic to waters off the Hawaiian Islands
and Johnston Atoll
. They have a role in aquarium
trade.
(Chaetodon citrinellus), the pebbled butterflyfish can be distinguished by its vertical bands.
On the dorsal
and anal fins, there is a black line running lengthwise, approximately one-third the total height of the fin from the outer margin. The pelvic fins are white, and the pectorals are transparent. The caudal fin bears a black crescent at its middle and a dark ring at its base.
They form pairs, especially for breeding, and lay eggs
. Pebbled butterflyfish are monogamous and are aggressively territorial. They will mate to defend a feeding territory. The diet of the pebbled butterflyfish is fairly specialist
, and is cromprised of coral polyps, polychaete worms, and small shrimp
s.
. They are found in waters off the Hawaiian Islands
and Johnston Atoll
. Pebbled butterflyfish occur near coral reefs and over rocks.
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
and Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean about west of Hawaii. There are four islands located on the coral reef platform, two natural islands, Johnston Island and Sand Island, which have been expanded by coral dredging, as well as North Island and East Island , an additional two...
. They have a role in aquarium
Aquarium fish
In fishkeeping, species of aquarium fish vary with the water chemistry of the aquarium.For species of fish found in particular types of aquaria, see:*List of brackish aquarium fish species*List of freshwater aquarium amphibian species...
trade.
Description and biology
Pebbled butterflyfish reach maximum lengths of 12 centimetres (4.7 in). The body is spotted and white, though it may bear shades of green and yellow. There are five light brown bands crossing the side of the body. On the ventral side, a dark line extends from the anal fins, gradually lightening to yellow as it moves towards the pelvic fins. Though often mistaken for the crochet butterflyfish (Chaetodon guentheri) or speckled butterflyfishSpeckled butterflyfish
Chaetodon citrinellus is a species of butterflyfish . It is commonly known as the Speckled Butterflyfish or Citron Butterflyfish...
(Chaetodon citrinellus), the pebbled butterflyfish can be distinguished by its vertical bands.
On the dorsal
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
and anal fins, there is a black line running lengthwise, approximately one-third the total height of the fin from the outer margin. The pelvic fins are white, and the pectorals are transparent. The caudal fin bears a black crescent at its middle and a dark ring at its base.
They form pairs, especially for breeding, and lay eggs
Oviparity
Oviparous animals are animals that lay eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, reptiles, all birds, the monotremes, and most insects, some molluscs and arachnids....
. Pebbled butterflyfish are monogamous and are aggressively territorial. They will mate to defend a feeding territory. The diet of the pebbled butterflyfish is fairly specialist
Generalist and specialist species
A generalist species is able to thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and can make use of a variety of different resources . A specialist species can only thrive in a narrow range of environmental conditions or has a limited diet. Most organisms do not all fit neatly into either...
, and is cromprised of coral polyps, polychaete worms, and small shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
s.
Distribution and habitat
Pebbled butterflyfish are distributed throughout the eastern central Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. They are found in waters off the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
and Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean about west of Hawaii. There are four islands located on the coral reef platform, two natural islands, Johnston Island and Sand Island, which have been expanded by coral dredging, as well as North Island and East Island , an additional two...
. Pebbled butterflyfish occur near coral reefs and over rocks.