Fourspot butterflyfish

Last updated

Fourspot butterflyfish
8070 aquaimages.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Chaetodon
Subgenus: Chaetodon (Exornator)
Species:
C. quadrimaculatus
Binomial name
Chaetodon quadrimaculatus
J. E. Gray, 1831
Synonyms [2]

Heterochaetodon lepidochaetodon quadrimaculatus(Gray, 1831)

Contents

The four-spotted butterflyfish or fourspot butterflyfish (Chaetodon quadrimaculatus) is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae) found in the Pacific Ocean from the Ryukyus, Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands and Taiwan to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Pitcairn islands, south to the Samoan and Austral Islands and the Marianas and Marshall Islands in Micronesia. [2]

The fourspot butterflyfish is a marine coralivorous organism. Therefore, its noted geographic distribution, as well as population-level spatial distribution and temporal variation in density, is correlated to relative distributions and abundance of the corals that butterflyfish are dependent on for food. [3]

It is a quite distinct species, but most closely related to the speckled butterflyfish (C. citrinellus). Together they are basal in the subgenus Exornator, and might be intermediate between the core group of this subgenus and the species of the Rhombochaetodon (or Roaops) lineage. If that is correct, the latter would require to be merged into Exornator. If the genus Chaetodon is split up, Exornator might become a subgenus of Lepidochaetodon. [4] [5]

Butterflyfish as a family are a common marine aquarium specimen as a result of their varying colors and patterns, and contribute to 4% of the global fish trade. [6]

Taxonomy

As one of 90 extant species in the genus Chaetodon, the fourspot butterflyfish shares the following characteristics: a laterally compressed body with bilateral symmetry, and ctenoid scales, identified by their comb-like edges. [7] One defining characteristic of this species is its four rounded, eye-shaped spots, two on each lateral surface. These spots are theorized to help this butterflyfish avoid predation by either intimidating predators or diverting attack of predators to potentially less fatal regions of the body. [8]

Diet and feeding

C. quadrimaculatus is an obligate, hard coral feeder, an adaptation that is theorized to have evolved approximately 3.2 million years ago. [9] This species is highly dependent on scleractinian corals, an order of Anthozoa where approximately 50% of species are reef-building zooxanthellate. [10] Butterflyfish typically feed from corals by removing individual polyps while leaving the calcareous skeleton undisturbed. [11] They use a picking method where they grip prey with the tips of their upper and lower anterior jaws. [12] Due to their specialized dependence on corals, C. quadrimaculatus and other obligate corallivorous species have an increased bite rate, pointing to a higher feeding efficiency, than butterflyfish that are facultative corallivores. [13]

Social structure

Owing to their obligate dependence on corals, fourspot butterflyfish tend to be distributed in stable feeding territories with high fidelity for each site and male-dominated defense mechanisms. [14] [15] The social structure is dominated by heterosexual, adult pair-bonds, while juveniles are typically solitary. [16] [17] However, there have also been observations of homosexual pair bonds and pair bonds between sexually immature butterflyfish in this genus. [18] Therefore, the evolution of pair bonds may offer benefits beyond increasing reproductive fitness. [18] Other proposed advantages of pair-bonding include increased foraging efficiency and vigilance against predators. [13] Within heterosexual pair-bonds, evidence supports the evolution of sex-specific roles rather than mutual territory defense. [19] In this division of labor, males actively defend territory allowing females to successfully forage and therefore increase their fecundity. [15]

Juvenile ShitenCU.jpg
Juvenile

Reproduction and development

Fourspot butterfly fish typically reproduce in monogamous pair bonds. [16] They reproduce via spawn breeding where the gonochoristic males and females release their respective gametes into the water column for fertilization. [20] Eggs are typically less than 1 mm in their pelagic form and fertilized eggs hatch in approximately 30 hours. [21] Like other butterfly fish in this family, C. quadrimaculatus has a specialized larval state called tholichthys, where the head is covered by fused plates, giving rise to a distinctive head spination. [21] Although no definitive results have been collected, there is little to minimal or no parental care in this species as a result of their spawn breeding reproductive tactic. [16] After larval development and hatching, juveniles directly settle on coral which offer protection from predators. [22]

Conservation

Since fourspot butterflyfish are highly associated with scleractinian coral, they are an indicator of reef health and their relative abundance is contingent on coral reef abundance. [9] With recent global changes in climate, especially the 2015-2016 rise in water temperatures and mass coral bleaching event in the central Indo-Pacific, this species may have experienced a decrease in food resource. [23] [24] Large-scale coral bleaching has also been associated with decreases in both interspecific and intraspecific aggression in butterflyfish. [24] Research in other species of butterflyfish show that local coral bleaching does not have immediate effects on local population abundance of butterflyfish, but does lead to sublethal effects such as decreased growth and reproduction rates. [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butterflyfish</span> Tropical marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae

The butterflyfish are a group of conspicuous tropical marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae; the bannerfish and coralfish are also included in this group. The approximately 129 species in 12 genera are found mostly on the reefs of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. A number of species pairs occur in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, members of the huge genus Chaetodon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raccoon butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The raccoon butterflyfish, also known as the crescent-masked butterflyfish, lunule butterflyfish, halfmoon butterflyfish, moon butterflyfish, raccoon butterfly, raccoon, raccoon coralfish, and redstriped butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millet butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The millet butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish in the family Chaetodontidae. Other common names include the lemon butterflyfish and the millet-seed butterflyfish. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and the Johnston Atoll, where it is found at depths down to 250 m (820 ft). Although it has a limited range, it is common around Hawaii, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ornate butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The ornate butterflyfish, or clown butterfyfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish in the family Chaetodontidae.

<i>Chaetodon ulietensis</i> Species of fish

Chaetodon ulietensis, the Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish or false falcula butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish. It flourishes in coral-rich environments in the central Indo-Pacific region. Their range extends from the Cocos-Keeling Islands to the Tuamotu Islands, and north to Japan. They are usually found from the surface to 20 m depths, and like shallow channels with high current.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blacktail butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The blacktail butterflyfish, also known as black-tailed butterflyfish or exquisite butterflyfish, is a species marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is native to the western Indian Ocean but has reached the Mediterranean Sea as a Lessepsian migrant through the Suez Canal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speckled butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

Chaetodon citrinellus is a species of butterflyfish. It is commonly known as the speckled butterflyfish or citron butterflyfish. It is found in the Indo-Pacific: the Red Sea, East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Tuamotu islands, north to southern Japan and south to Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lined butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The lined butterflyfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish. a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae, one of the largest species in the genus Chaetodon. It has a wide range from the Red Sea to South Africa and as far east as southern Japan and Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackback butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The black-backed butterflyfish or blackback butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish. It is widespread through the Indo-Pacific area from the Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, to southern Japan and throughout Micronesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eritrean butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The Eritrean butterflyfish or crown butterflyfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is essentially just known from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, but has been reported from East Africa. It grows up to 14 cm (5.5 in) in length. It is white with black chevrons, except for a red zone stretching from the aft dorsal fin across the caudal peduncle to the end of the anal fin. A red bar runs vertically through the caudal fin. There are black eyestripes and a black "crown" with white border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melon butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The melon butterflyfish or the Indian redfin butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Indian Ocean from East Africa to Western Java. This is one species of a closely related group which includes the blacktail butterflyfish of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and the oval butterflyfish which is found in the western Pacific, from eastern coasts of the Indonesian islands to Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pearlscale butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The pearlscale butterflyfish, also known as yellow-tailed butterflyfish, crosshatch butterflyfish or Philippines chevron butterflyfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oval butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The oval butterflyfish, red-finned butterflyfish or redfin butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Pacific Ocean from Eastern Indonesia to the Hawaiian islands. This is one species of a closely related group which includes the Blacktail butterflyfish, which is found in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and the Melon butterflyfish, which is found in the Indian Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spot-tail butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The Spot-tailed Butterflyfish, Chaetodon ocellicaudus, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the central Indo- west Pacific region from Malaysia to New Guinea, north to the Philippines and Palau in Micronesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern triangle butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The eastern triangle butterflyfish, also known as the baroness butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the central Indo-West Pacific region from the Cocos-Keeling Islands and Indonesia in the eastern Indian Ocean to Fiji and Tonga, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia and New South Wales in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluelashed butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The bluelashed butterflyfish, also known as the eclipse butterflyfish, archer butterflyfish or Bennett's butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae, It is found in the Indo-Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seychelles butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The Seychelles butterflyfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Indian Ocean from eastern Africa east to Cocos-Keeling Islands and Christmas Island, north to Sri Lanka. The Seychelles butterflyfish is found in areas of rich coral growth on seaward reefs, at 10–40 m depth.

<i>Chaetodon larvatus</i> Species of fish

Chaetodon larvatus, commonly known as the hooded butterflyfish or orangeface butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and has been recorded twice recently in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off Israel and Syria.

<i>Chaetodon aureofasciatus</i> Species of fish

Chaetodon aureofasciatus, the golden butterflyfish, golden- banded butterflyfish, golden-striped butterflyfish or sunburst butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. This coral eating species is found on shallow reefs in the western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corallivore</span> Animal that feeds on coral

A corallivore is an animal that feeds on coral. Corallivores are an important group of reef organism because they can influence coral abundance, distribution, and community structure. Corallivores feed on coral using a variety of unique adaptations and strategies. Known corallivores include certain mollusks, annelids, fish, crustaceans, flatworms and echinoderms. The first recorded evidence of corallivory was presented by Charles Darwin in 1842 during his voyage on HMS Beagle in which he found coral in the stomach of two Scarus parrotfish.

References

  1. ↑ Myers, R.F.; Pratchett, M. (2010). "Chaetodon quadrimaculatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T165678A6088913. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165678A6088913.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Chaetpdon quadrimaculatus" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. ↑ Pratchett, M. S.; Wilson, S. K.; Berumen, M. L.; McCormick, M. I. (2004-09-01). "Sublethal effects of coral bleaching on an obligate coral feeding butterflyfish". Coral Reefs. 23 (3): 352–356. doi:10.1007/s00338-004-0394-x. ISSN   1432-0975. S2CID   29455742.
  4. ↑ Fessler, Jennifer L.; Westneat, Mark W (2007). "Molecular phylogenetics of the butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae): Taxonomy and biogeography of a global coral reef fish family". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 45 (1): 50–68. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.05.018. PMID   17625921.
  5. ↑ Hsu, Kui-Ching; Chen, Jeng-Ping & Shao, Kwang-Tsao (2007). "Molecular phylogeny of Chaetodon (Teleostei: Chaetodontidae) in the Indo-West Pacific: evolution in geminate species pairs and species groups" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement. 14: 77–86. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  6. ↑ Degidio, Jon-Michael L. A.; Yanong, Roy P. E.; Watson, Craig A.; Ohs, Cortney L.; Cassiano, Eric J.; Barden, Kevin (2017-07-03). "Spawning, Embryology, and Larval Development of the Milletseed Butterflyfish Chaetodon miliaris in the Laboratory". North American Journal of Aquaculture. 79 (3): 205–215. doi:10.1080/15222055.2017.1302025. ISSN   1522-2055.
  7. ↑ Thresher, Ronald E., 1949- (1984). Reproduction in reef fishes. Distributed in the U.S. by T.F.H. Publications. ISBN   0-87666-808-2. OCLC   1089502252.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Gagliano, Monica (2008-07-01). "On the spot: the absence of predators reveals eyespot plasticity in a marine fish". Behavioral Ecology. 19 (4): 733–739. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arn013 . ISSN   1045-2249.
  9. 1 2 BELLWOOD, D. R.; KLANTEN, S.; COWMAN, P. F.; PRATCHETT, M. S.; KONOW, N.; van HERWERDEN, L. (2010). "Evolutionary history of the butterflyfishes (f: Chaetodontidae) and the rise of coral feeding fishes". Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 23 (2): 335–349. doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01904.x. ISSN   1010-061X. PMID   20487131. S2CID   205432569.
  10. ↑ Stolarski, Jarosław; Meibom, Anders; Przeniosło, Radosław; Mazur, Maciej (2007-10-05). "A Cretaceous Scleractinian Coral with a Calcitic Skeleton". Science. 318 (5847): 92–94. Bibcode:2007Sci...318...92S. doi:10.1126/science.1149237. ISSN   0036-8075. PMID   17916731. S2CID   22233075.
  11. ↑ Pratchett, Morgan S. (2005-08-25). "Dietary overlap among coral-feeding butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) at Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef". Marine Biology. 148 (2): 373–382. doi:10.1007/s00227-005-0084-4. ISSN   0025-3162. S2CID   84044783.
  12. ↑ Copus, Joshua M.; Gibb, Alice C. (2013-12-01). "A forceful upper jaw facilitates picking-based prey capture: biomechanics of feeding in a butterflyfish, Chaetodon trichrous". Zoology. 116 (6): 336–347. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2013.08.005. ISSN   0944-2006. PMID   24156977.
  13. 1 2 Gregson, M. A.; Pratchett, M. S.; Berumen, M. L.; Goodman, B. A. (2008-03-28). "Relationships between butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) feeding rates and coral consumption on the Great Barrier Reef". Coral Reefs. 27 (3): 583–591. Bibcode:2008CorRe..27..583G. doi:10.1007/s00338-008-0366-7. ISSN   0722-4028. S2CID   42119758.
  14. ↑ Hourigan, Thomas F. (1989). "Environmental determinants of butterflyfish social systems". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 25 (1–3): 61–78. doi:10.1007/bf00002201. ISSN   0378-1909. S2CID   34211621.
  15. 1 2 Whiteman, E. A.; Ct, I. M. (2004). "Monogamy in marine fishes". Biological Reviews. 79 (2): 351–375. doi:10.1017/s1464793103006304. ISSN   1464-7931. PMID   15191228. S2CID   22149575.
  16. 1 2 3 Pratchett, Morgan S.; Pradjakusuma, Oki. A.; Jones, Geoffrey P. (2006-01-21). "Is there a reproductive basis to solitary living versus pair-formation in coral reef fishes?". Coral Reefs. 25 (1): 85–92. Bibcode:2006CorRe..25...85P. doi:10.1007/s00338-005-0081-6. ISSN   0722-4028. S2CID   11765988.
  17. ↑ Roberts, Callum M.; Ormond, Rupert F. G. (1992). "Butterflyfish social behaviour, with special reference to the incidence of territoriality: a review". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 34 (1): 79–93. doi:10.1007/bf00004786. ISSN   0378-1909. S2CID   20051265.
  18. 1 2 Nowicki, Jessica P.; Walker, Stefan P. W.; Coker, Darren J.; Hoey, Andrew S.; Nicolet, Katia J.; Pratchett, Morgan S. (2018-04-19). "Pair bond endurance promotes cooperative food defense and inhibits conflict in coral reef butterflyfish". Scientific Reports. 8 (1): 6295. Bibcode:2018NatSR...8.6295N. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24412-0 . ISSN   2045-2322. PMC   5908845 . PMID   29674741.
  19. ↑ Nowicki, Jessica P.; O’Connell, Lauren A.; Cowman, Peter F.; Walker, Stefan P. W.; Coker, Darren J.; Pratchett, Morgan S. (2018-04-11). "Variation in social systems within Chaetodon butterflyfishes, with special reference to pair bonding". PLOS ONE. 13 (4): e0194465. Bibcode:2018PLoSO..1394465N. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194465 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   5894994 . PMID   29641529.
  20. ↑ Lobel, Phillip S. (1989). "Spawning behavior of Chaetodon multicinctus (Chaetodontidae); pairs and intruders". In Motta, Philip J. (ed.). The butterflyfishes: success on the coral reef. Developments in environmental biology of fishes. Vol. 9. Springer Netherlands. pp. 125–130. doi:10.1007/978-94-009-2325-6_9. ISBN   978-94-010-7545-9.
  21. 1 2 Leis, Jeffrey M. (1989). "Larval biology of butterflyfishes (Pisces, Chaetodontidae): What do we really know?". In Motta, Philip J. (ed.). The butterflyfishes: success on the coral reef. Developments in environmental biology of fishes. Vol. 9. Springer Netherlands. pp. 87–100. doi:10.1007/978-94-009-2325-6_6. ISBN   978-94-009-2325-6.
  22. ↑ Pratchett, M. S.; Graham, N. A. J.; Cole, A. J. (2013-03-13). "Specialist corallivores dominate butterflyfish assemblages in coral-dominated reef habitats". Journal of Fish Biology. 82 (4): 1177–1191. doi:10.1111/jfb.12056. ISSN   0022-1112. PMID   23557298.
  23. ↑ Lawton, Rebecca J.; Pratchett, Morgan S. (2012-06-05). "Influence of dietary specialization and resource availability on geographical variation in abundance of butterflyfish". Ecology and Evolution. 2 (7): 1347–1361. doi: 10.1002/ece3.253 . ISSN   2045-7758. PMC   3434932 . PMID   22957144.
  24. 1 2 Keith, Sally A.; Baird, Andrew H.; Hobbs, Jean-Paul A.; Woolsey, Erika S.; Hoey, Andrew S.; Fadli, N.; Sanders, Nathan J. (2018-10-22). "Synchronous behavioural shifts in reef fishes linked to mass coral bleaching" (PDF). Nature Climate Change. 8 (11): 986–991. Bibcode:2018NatCC...8..986K. doi:10.1038/s41558-018-0314-7. ISSN   1758-678X. S2CID   91864044.
  25. ↑ Pratchett, M. S.; Wilson, S. K.; Berumen, M. L.; McCormick, M. I. (2004-08-20). "?Sublethal effects of coral bleaching on an obligate coral feeding butterflyfish?". Coral Reefs. 23 (3): 352–356. doi:10.1007/s00338-004-0394-x. ISSN   0722-4028. S2CID   29455742.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.