Home > Fishes > Butterflyfishes > Chaetodon mertensii

Updated 3/28/2018

Family Chaetodontidae

WEST PACIFIC

Chaetodon mertensii



Vava'u, Tonga

Pago Pago, American Samoa, 40 feet

 

Paradise Taveuni, Fiji, 40 feet


Juvenile, Paradise Taveuni, Fiji, 40 feet

ATOLL BUTTERFLYFISH    Benio-chochouo

Uncommon in deep lagoons and reefs from 10 to 400 feet.  Feeds upon benthic invertebrates and algae.  Has U-shaped saddle lined with white on the forehead & crosshatch pattern on side.  Attains 5 inches.  New Guinea east to the Tuamotus.  May hybridize with Chaetodon xanthurus and related to C. paucifasciatus.