Coradion melanopus (Cuvier, 1831)
Twospot coralfish
photo by Greenfield, J.

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 10 - 30 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Indonesia to Papua New Guinea and Bismarck Archipelago. Reported from the Philippines (Ref. 9710).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-27; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 17-18. Description: Pearly white with broad brownish bands. A distinctive white-edged ocellus in dorsal fin and a smaller one in anal fin (Ref. 48636). Snout length 2.7-2.9 in HL. Body depth 1.3-1.4 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  An extremely wary fish found in sheltered lagoons or exposed outer reefs; to a depth greater than 30 m (Ref. 9710). More common along drop-offs in the vicinity of sponges on which they feed (Ref. 9710). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Recorded in TaƱon Strait (Ref. 107276). Also Ref. 48613.


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