Raccoon butterflyfish
Encyclopedia
The raccoon butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula, also known as the crescent-masked butterflyfish or lunule butterflyfish, is a species
of butterflyfish
(family
Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Indo-Pacific
region and in the southeast Atlantic. Its length is up to 20 cm (nearly 8 in).
It belongs to the large subgenus
Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus
. In this group, its closest relative is probably the very similar Red Sea raccoon butterflyfish or diagonal butterflyfish
, C. fasciatus. Other close relatives appear to be the black butterflyfish
, C. flavirostris), Philippine butterflyfish
, C. adiergastos, and perhaps also the unusual redtail butterflyfish
, C. collare. Although the coloration of this group varies greatly, they are all largish butterflyfishes with an oval outline, and most have a pattern of ascending oblique stripes on the flanks. Except in the red-tailed butterflyfish, there is at least a vestigial form of the "raccoon
" mask, with a white space between the dark crown and eye areas.
and triggerfish
. In captivity, the typical lifespan of a raccoon butterflyfish is five to seven years. It has been observed as a beneficial predator of Aiptasia
and Majano sea anemone
s. They will eliminate this nuisance pest within a two- to six-week period depending on the anemone population and size of the tank; however, they will eagerly feed on any soft corals and may cause more harm than good to the decoration. In a confined environment, this species is prone to succumbing to "marine ich", infection by the ciliate
Cryptocaryon irritans.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of butterflyfish
Butterflyfish
The butterflyfish are a group of conspicuous tropical marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae; the bannerfish and coralfish are also included in this group. Found mostly on the reefs of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, there are approximately 120 species in 10 genera...
(family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Indo-Pacific
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia...
region and in the southeast Atlantic. Its length is up to 20 cm (nearly 8 in).
It belongs to the large subgenus
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. In this group, its closest relative is probably the very similar Red Sea raccoon butterflyfish or diagonal butterflyfish
Diagonal butterflyfish
The Diagonal Butterflyfish , also known as the Red Sea Raccoon Butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish . It is found in the Red Sea only....
, C. fasciatus. Other close relatives appear to be the black butterflyfish
Black butterflyfish
The Black Butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish .-References:*...
, C. flavirostris), Philippine butterflyfish
Philippine butterflyfish
The Philippine Butterflyfish, Chaetodon adiergastos, is a species of butterflyfish . It is found in the western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan to Java and northwestern Australia....
, C. adiergastos, and perhaps also the unusual redtail butterflyfish
Redtail butterflyfish
The Red-tailed Butterflyfish or redtail butterflyfish , also known as the Pakistani Butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish ....
, C. collare. Although the coloration of this group varies greatly, they are all largish butterflyfishes with an oval outline, and most have a pattern of ascending oblique stripes on the flanks. Except in the red-tailed butterflyfish, there is at least a vestigial form of the "raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
" mask, with a white space between the dark crown and eye areas.
In the aquarium
The raccoon butterflyfish is generally not aggressive towards other fish, with the exception of lionfishLionfish
Lionfish may refer to:* genus Pterois, collectively known as the lionfish* Red Lionfish , a significant invasive species off the East Coast of North America and in the Caribbean-Fish:...
and triggerfish
Triggerfish
Triggerfishes are about 40 species of often brightly colored fishes of the family Balistidae. Often marked by lines and spots, they inhabit tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, with the greatest species richness in the Indo-Pacific...
. In captivity, the typical lifespan of a raccoon butterflyfish is five to seven years. It has been observed as a beneficial predator of Aiptasia
Aiptasia
Aiptasia is a genus of a symbiotic cnidarian belonging to the class Anthozoa . Other well known cnidarian groups include the jellyfish , the hydroids , and the box jellyfish...
and Majano sea anemone
Sea anemone
Sea anemones are a group of water-dwelling, predatory animals of the order Actiniaria; they are named after the anemone, a terrestrial flower. Sea anemones are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Zoantharia. Anthozoa often have large polyps that allow for digestion of larger...
s. They will eliminate this nuisance pest within a two- to six-week period depending on the anemone population and size of the tank; however, they will eagerly feed on any soft corals and may cause more harm than good to the decoration. In a confined environment, this species is prone to succumbing to "marine ich", infection by the ciliate
Ciliate
The ciliates are a group of protozoans characterized by the presence of hair-like organelles called cilia, which are identical in structure to flagella but typically shorter and present in much larger numbers with a different undulating pattern than flagella...
Cryptocaryon irritans.