Chaetodon xanthurus Bleeker, 1857
Pearlscale butterflyfish
photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/B. Alenda

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  14 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 6 - 50 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Indonesia and the Philippines, north to the Ryukyu Islands (Ref. 9710).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-23; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 15-17. Description: Posterior part of body and tail orange-yellow (Ref. 48636). Body pearly white; scales have black edges, giving the sides a reticulated pattern (Ref. 4855). Vertical bar broad orange across posteriormost of body; eye bar black; forehead spot black with pale edge. Snout length 2.8-3.6 in HL. Body depth 1.6-1.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Clear coastal to outer reef slopes and drop-offs (Ref. 48636). Found around staghorn corals. The only member of the family with a crosshatch pattern of dark lines on the sides. Generally seen below 15 m depth and occurs singly or in pairs. Feed on small benthic invertebrates and algae, similar to C. mertensii (Ref. 37816). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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