Threadfin butterflyfish
| Threadfin butterflyfish | |
|---|---|
| C. a. setifer (Pemba, Tanzania) | |
| C. a. auriga (Sharm el-Sheikh, Red Sea) | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Family: | Chaetodontidae |
| Genus: | Chaetodon |
| Subgenus: | Chaetodon (Rabdophorus) |
| Species: | C. auriga
|
| Binomial name | |
| Chaetodon auriga Forsskål, 1775
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
The threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) is a species of butterflyfish, which are tropical marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.
Distribution
[edit | edit source]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] A single specimen was reported recently (2015) in the western Mediterranean Sea off Italy, a likely result of aquarium release.[3]
Description
[edit | edit source]Chaetodon auriga is up to 23 centimetres (9 in) long. Its body is white with "chevron" markings on the side. The rear edge of the dorsal fin has a prominent black spot with a trailing filament behind it, and a black vertical band runs through the eye. The fish also has a belly patch of descending oblique dark lines and bright yellow fins.[4] Two subspecies are sometimes recognised: Chaetodon auriga auriga occurs in the Red Sea and lacks the dorsal eyespot; Chaetodon auriga setifer is the spotted population occurring outside the Red Sea.[2]
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]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, but they differ conspicuously in hindpart coloration.[5][6]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea (Chaetodon auriga). 2nd Edition. 2021. 366p. CIESM Publishers, Paris, Monaco.https://ciesm.org/atlas/fishes_2nd_edition/Chaetodon_auriga.pdf
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
[edit | edit source]- Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Chaetodon auriga at Wikispecies- Photos of Threadfin butterflyfish in the Sealife Collection
Lua error in Module:Taxonbar at line 165: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).