| Threadfin butterflyfish | |
|---|---|
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| C. a. setifer (Pemba, Tanzania) | |
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| C. a. auriga (Sharm el-Sheikh, Red Sea) | |
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| Species: | C. auriga |
| Binomial name | |
| Chaetodon auriga Forsskål, 1775 | |
The threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae).
Chaetodon auriga is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and eastern Africa (south to Mossel Bay, South Africa) to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island and Rapa Iti, at depths of 1–35 metres (3–115 ft). [2]
Chaetodon auriga is up to 23 centimetres (9 in) long. Its body is white with `chevron' markings on the side. Tear edge of the dorsal fin has a prominent black spot, and a prominent black vertical band runs through the eye. The rear of soft-dorsal fin has a trailing filament, and it has a belly patch of descending oblique dark lines as well as bright yellow fins. [3] Two subspecies are sometimes recognised: Chaetodon auriga auriga occurs in the Red Sea population and lacks the dorsal eyespot; Chaetodon auriga setifer is the spotted population occurring outside the Red Sea. [2]
It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. Within this group, it is almost certainly a rather close relative of the vagabond butterflyfish (C. vagabundus) and the Indian vagabond butterflyfish (C. decussatus). The C. auriga species group shares the characteristic pattern of two areas of ascending and descending oblique lines; species differ conspicuously in hindpart coloration. [4] [5]
Chaetodon is a tropical fish genus in the family Chaetodontidae. Like their relatives, they are known as "butterflyfish". This genus is by far the largest among the Chaetodontidae, with about 90 living species included here, though most might warrant recognition as distinct genera.
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 butterflyfish.
The lined butterflyfish is a butterflyfish, 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.
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.
The chevron butterflyfish, also known as chevroned butterflyfish, triangulate butterflyfish or V-lined butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish found in the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Society Islands.
The Melon Butterflyfish or Indian Redfin Butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish. 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 Black-tailed 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.
The vagabond butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and off East Africa as far east as the Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan and south to the Austral Islands.
The Oval Butterflyfish, Red-finned Butterflyfish or redfin butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish. 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.
The Indian Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon decussatus, is a species of butterflyfish. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Maldives via India, Sri Lanka and the Andaman Sea to the westernmost portion of the Indonesian archipelago.
The Saddle Butterflyfish, Chaetodon ephippium, is a species of butterflyfish. It is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans from Sri Lanka and the Cocos-Keeling Islands to the Hawaiian, Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals and New South Wales in Australia.
The Dotted Butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish. It is found in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean from the Maldives to the Tuamotu Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to the Great Barrier Reef.
The mirror butterflyfish or oval-spot butterflyfish, Chaetodon speculum, is a species of butterflyfish. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region from Indonesia to Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef and Papua New Guinea. The species has also been reported from Madagascar, Mauritius and Réunion.
The Eight-banded Butterflyfish or eightband butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish. It is found in the Indo- west Pacific region from Indonesia and the Philippines via Papua New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef to the Solomon Islands, Palau, and north to China; it extends into the Indian Ocean at least to the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka.
The Philippine butterflyfish or panda 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.
The spot-banded butterflyfish or spotband butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish.
The Spot-naped Butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish. It is found in the Indo- West Pacific region from Sri Lanka to Queensland, north to Indonesia and the Philippines.
The Latticed Butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region from Sri Lanka to the Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef, and from Palau (Belau) to the eastern Caroline Islands in Micronesia.
The Seychelles butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish. 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.
Chaetodon falcula, the blackwedged butterflyfish or falcula butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish. It is found in the Indian Ocean, from eastern Africa south to 27°S and east to Indonesia.
Chaetodon larvatus, commonly known as the hooded butterflyfish or orangeface butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish. It is found in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and as of 2011 has been recorded as a Lessepsian migrant in the southeast Mediterranean.
