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Family Chaetodontidae
Butterflyfishes
INDIAN OCEAN
Chaetodon falcula
Shinagawa Aquarium, Tokyo, Japan |
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BLACKWEDGED BUTTERFLYFISH
| Habitat |
Reefs and walls exposed to current |
| Depth |
To 50 feet |
| Diet |
Invertebrates |
| Size |
8 inches |
| Abundance |
Common |
| Distribution |
East Africa to Sumatra |
| Notes |
Occurs in pairs or aggregations |
| Similar species |
Chaetodon ulietensis in the Pacific only white between the black
saddles |
Chaetodon
lineolatus
Kaiwi Point, Hawaii, 30 feet |
Kahuwai Bay, Hawaii, 8 feet |
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LINED BUTTERFLYFISH
| Hawaiian name |
Kikakapu |
| Japanese name |
Nise-furai-chochouo |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-laui'a |
| Habitat |
Coral reefs |
| Depth |
To at least 500 feet |
| Diet |
Coral polyps, anemones, and algae |
| Size |
12 inches |
| Abundance |
Rare in Hawaii except the Big Island |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific, Red Sea to Japan, Hawaii, and the Marquesas |
| Notes |
Forms pairs and will often approach divers;
world's largest butterflyfish |
| Similar species |
Chaetodon auriga, Chaetodon
oxycephalus |
Chaetodon auriga
Kahalu'u, Hawaii, 4 feet |
Juvenile, Utulei, Samoa, 10 feet |
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THREADFIN BUTTERFLYFISH
| Hawaiian name |
Kikakapu |
| Japanese name |
Toge-chochouo |
| Samoan name |
I'usamasama, Si'u |
| Habitat |
Reefs |
| Depth |
To at least 100 feet |
| Diet |
Small invertebrates, coral polyps, algae |
| Size |
9 inches |
| Abundance |
Fairly common |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific, Red Sea to South Africa, Japan, Hawaii, and the
Marquesas |
| Notes |
Usually found as a pair, wary of divers |
| Similar species |
Chaetodon lineolatus, Chaetodon vagabundus |
Chaetodon vagabundus
Faga'alu, Tutuila, American Samoa, 5 feet
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VAGABOND BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Furai-chochouo |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-matapua'a |
| Habitat |
Reefs and inshore waters |
| Depth |
To at least 100 feet |
| Diet |
Omnivorous |
| Size |
9 inches |
| Abundance |
Common |
| Distribution |
Red Sea to Japan and the Tuamotus; absent from Hawaii |
| Notes |
Forms pairs |
| Similar species |
Chaetodon auriga is orange on the back; C. decussatus
from India |
Chaetodon trifascialis
South Reef, French Frigate Shoals, 50 feet |
Rapture Reef, French Frigate Shoals, 70 feet |
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CHEVRON BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Yarikatagi |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-sae'u |
| Habitat |
Associated with Acropora
Table Corals |
| Depth |
To 100 feet |
| Diet |
Polyps and mucus of Acropora
Table Corals |
| Size |
7 inches |
| Abundance |
Common where Acropora
Table Corals exist but nearly absent in Hawaii except at French
Frigate Shoals |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific, Red Sea to the Society Islands |
| Notes |
Vigorously defends its territory and highly dependent upon Acropora
corals |
Chaetodon ornatissimus
Juvenile at dusk, Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 25 feet
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Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet |
Puako, Hawaii, 35 feet |
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ORNATE BUTTERFLYFISH
| Hawaiian name |
Kikakapu |
| Japanese name |
Hanaguro-chochouo |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-'ava'ava |
| Habitat |
Coral reefs |
| Depth |
To 100 feet |
| Diet |
Coral tissue |
| Size |
8 inches |
| Abundance |
Common |
| Distribution |
Sri Lanka to Japan, Hawaii, Marquesas, and Rapa |
| Notes |
Occurs in pairs |
| Related species |
Chaetodon meyeri has black diagonal stripes |
Chaetodon meyeri
Wakatobi, Indonesia, 50 feet |
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MEYER'S BUTTERFLYFISH
| Habitat |
Coral reefs |
| Depth |
To 80 feet |
| Diet |
Coral polyps |
| Size |
8 inches |
| Abundance |
Uncommon |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific to the Galapagos, absent from Hawaii |
| Notes |
Forms pairs during spawning |
| Similar species |
Chaetodon ornatissimus has orange stripes |
Chaetodon octofasciatus
Shinagawa Aquarium, Tokyo, Japan
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EIGHTBAR BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Yasuji-chochouo |
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| Habitat |
Sheltered coral reefs |
| Depth |
To 50 feet |
| Diet |
Coral polyps |
| Size |
5 inches |
| Abundance |
Uncommon |
| Distribution |
Maldives east to China and Palau |
| Notes |
Associated with Acropora
corals |
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Chaetodon lunula
Juvenile, Waimanalo, Oahu
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Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet |
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet |
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RACCOON BUTTERFLYFISH
| Hawaiian name |
Kikakapu |
| Japanese name |
Chohan |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-laumea |
| Habitat |
Reefs |
| Depth |
To 100 feet |
| Diet |
Benthic invertebrates and algae |
| Size |
8 inches |
| Abundance |
Common |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific, South Africa to Japan, Hawaii, and Rapa |
| Notes |
Nocturnal, may be found in large aggregations |
Chaetodon bennetti
Maeda Point, Okinawa, Japan
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Maeda Point, Okinawa, Japan |
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BLUELASHED BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Umizuki-chochouo |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-lega |
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| Habitat |
Coral reefs |
| Depth |
To 100 feet |
| Diet |
Coral polyps, invertebrates, algae |
| Size |
8 inches |
| Abundance |
Common |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific; East Africa to Pitcairn Island and Japan, absent from
Hawaii |
Chaetodon plebeius
Maeda Point, Okinawa, Japan
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BLUESTREAK BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Sumitsuki-tonosamadai |
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| Habitat |
Coral reefs |
| Depth |
To 40 feet |
| Diet |
Acropora coral polyps and
small invertebrates |
| Size |
6 inches |
| Abundance |
Uncommon |
| Distribution |
Thailand to Japan, Australia, and Tonga |
| Notes |
May clean parasites from other fishes |
Chaetodon semeion
Breakers Point, Tutuila, American Samoa, 25 feet
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DOTTED BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Remon-chochouo |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-si'o |
| Habitat |
Rocky reefs |
| Depth |
To 100 feet |
| Diet |
Invertebrates |
| Size |
10 inches |
| Abundance |
Rare |
| Distribution |
Maldives to Okinawa and the Tuamotus |
| Notes |
A wary fish |
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Chaetodon rafflesii
Wakatobi, Indonesia
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Faga'alu, Tutuila, American Samoa, 10 feet |
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LATTICED BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Ami-chochouo |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-pule |
| Habitat |
Coral reefs |
| Depth |
To 50 feet |
| Diet |
Invertebrates |
| Size |
7 inches |
| Abundance |
Uncommon |
| Distribution |
Sri Lanka to Okinawa and the Tuamotus |
| Notes |
Forms pairs |
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Chaetodon ephippium
Juvenile, Faga'alu, Samoa, 5 feet |
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 45 feet |
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SADDLEBACK
BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Seguro-chochouo |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-tuauli |
| Habitat |
Coral reefs |
| Depth |
To 100 feet |
| Diet |
Coral polyps, benthic invertebrates, filamentous
algae, and fish eggs |
| Size |
12 inches |
| Abundance |
Rare in Hawaii but fairly common elsewhere |
| Distribution |
Sri Lanka to Japan, Hawaii, and the Marquesas |
| Notes |
Forms pairs; skittish and difficult to
photograph |
Chaetodon citrinellus
Utulei, American Samoa, 15 feet |
Juvenile, Kahuwai Bay, Hawaii, 7 feet |
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CITRON or LEMON
BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Goma-chochouo |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-moamanu |
| Habitat |
Reefs |
| Depth |
To 100 feet |
| Diet |
Benthic invertebrates, coral polyps, and
filamentous algae |
| Size |
5 inches |
| Abundance |
Very rare in Hawaii; common in Indo-Pacific |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific, East Africa to Japan, Hawaii (rare), and the Marquesas |
| Notes |
Pale yellow with diagonally- aligned spots; anal
fin has black outer border; may form pairs or small groups, but usually
solitary in Hawaii |
| Similar species |
Chaetodon miliaris, Chaetodon guentheri |
Chaetodon kleinii
Juvenile, Mokapu Pinnacle, Oahu, 120 feet |
Kaiwi Point, Hawaii, 50 feet |
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BLACKLIP or SUNBURST BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Mizore-chochouo |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi |
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| Habitat |
Deep reefs and walls exposed to current |
| Depth |
40 to 200 feet |
| Diet |
Zooplankton, soft coral polyps, and algae |
| Size |
6 inches |
| Abundance |
Fairly common |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific; Red Sea to Japan, Samoa, Hawaii, and the Galapagos |
| Notes |
Solitary |
Chaetodon unimaculatus
Juvenile, Moku Manu, Oahu, 50 feet
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Ahihi Bay, Maui, 25 feet |
Manana Island, Oahu, 25 feet |
Night, Hau'ula, Oahu, 25 feet |
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TEARDROP BUTTERFLYFISH
| Hawaiian name |
Lauhau |
| Japanese name |
Itten-chocho-uo |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-pulesama |
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| Habitat |
Reefs |
| Depth |
To 200 feet |
| Diet |
Coral polyps, small invertebrates, filamentous
algae |
| Size |
8 inches |
| Abundance |
Uncommon |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific, including Hawaii |
| Notes |
Indian Ocean fish are mostly yellow |
Chaetodon melannotus
Maeda Point, Okinawa, Japan, 40 feet
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Juvenile, Nu'u'uli, Tutuila, America Samoa, 5 feet |
Juvenile, Nu'u'uli, Tutuila, America Samoa, 5 feet |
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BLACKBACK BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Akebono-chochouo |
| Samoan name |
Tifitifi-pa'ipa'i |
| Habitat |
Coral reefs |
| Depth |
To at least 50 feet |
| Diet |
Hard and soft coral polyps |
| Size |
7 inches |
| Abundance |
Common |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Japan, east to Samoa |
| Notes |
Occurs in pairs |
| Similar species |
Chaetodon ocellicaudus lacks black area on back, spot on
peduncle surrounded with yellow |
Hemitaurichthys zoster
BROWN & WHITE
BUTTERFLYFISH
| Habitat |
In midwater near reefs, ledges, walls, and wrecks exposed to current |
| Depth |
To 150 feet |
| Diet |
Zooplankton |
| Size |
7 inches |
| Abundance |
Fairly common |
| Distribution |
East Africa to the Andaman Sea |
| Notes |
Forms large aggregations high above the bottom; head
may be light or dark brown |
| Related species |
Hemitaurichthys polylepis in the Pacific Ocean |
Forcipiger flavissimus
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet |
Puako, Hawaii, 30 feet
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Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet |
Kewalo, Oahu, 90 feet |
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FORCEPSFISH
| Hawaiian name |
Lauwiliwilinukunuku'oi'oi |
| Japanese name |
Fueyakkodai |
| Samoan name |
Gutumanu |
| Mexican name |
Mariposa hochicona |
| Habitat |
Reefs |
| Depth |
To 350 feet |
| Diet |
Tube feet and pedicellariae of echinoderms, worm
tentacles, and other invertebrates |
| Size |
8.5 inches |
| Abundance |
Common |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific, Red Sea to Japan, Hawaii, Easter Island, Mexico, and the
Galapagos |
| Notes |
Region behind pectoral fin lacks small dots, opening of mouth is greater than
F. longirostris,
while snout is shorter |
| Similar species |
Forcipiger longirostris |
Forcipiger longirostris
Old Kona Airport, Hawaii, 40 feet
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Ke'ei, Hawaii, 45 feet |
Transition phase, Honaunau, Hawaii, 30 feet
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Dark phase, Puako, Hawaii, 30 feet |
Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, 50 feet
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LONGNOSE BUTTERFLYFISH
| Hawaiian name |
Lauwiliwilinukunuku'oi'oi |
| Japanese name |
Ofueyakkodai |
| Samoan name |
Gutumanu |
| Habitat |
Seaward reefs |
| Depth |
To at least 200 feet |
| Diet |
Small crustaceans |
| Size |
8.5 inches |
| Abundance |
Fairly common off the islands of Hawaii and
Maui, rare elsewhere |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific, East Africa to Ogasawara, Hawaii, and Pitcairn Island |
| Notes |
Opening of mouth very small; snout very long; rows of brown dots
below pectoral fin
Brown color form often seen along the Kona
coast of Hawaii
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| Related Species |
Forcipiger flavissimus |
Chelmon rostratus
Waikiki Aquarium
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COPPERBAND BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Hashinaga-chochouo |
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| Habitat |
Inshore reefs, bays, and estuaries |
| Depth |
To 75 feet |
| Diet |
Invertebrates |
| Size |
8 inches |
| Abundance |
Common |
| Distribution |
Andaman Sea to Okinawa and Australia |
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| Similar species |
Chelmon marginalis has fewer orange bars |
Heniochus diphreutes
Koko Head Wall, Oahu, 40 feet
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Juvenile, Makua, Oahu, 30 feet |
Rapture Reef, French Frigate Shoals, 75 feet |
Lanai Lookout, Oahu, 40 feet |
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PENNANT BUTTERFLYFISH
| Japanese name |
Mure-hatatatedai |
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| Habitat |
Open water near ledges and walls |
| Depth |
50 to 700 feet |
| Diet |
Feeds upon zooplankton high above the reef |
| Size |
7 inches |
| Abundance |
Fairly common in areas exposed to strong currents |
| Distribution |
Cooler waters of the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea; Hawaii, Japan,
Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, New Guinea, Philippines, Maldives,
Mascarenes, South Africa |
| Notes |
Forms large aggregations; large scales
distinguish it from the Moorish
Idol |
| Similar species |
Heniochus acuminatus, Zanclus
cornutus |
Heniochus acuminatus
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Breakers Point, Tutuila, American Samoa, 50 feet |
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LONGFIN BANNERFISH
| Japanese name |
Hatatatedai |
| Samoan name |
Laulaufau-laumea |
| Habitat |
Reefs |
| Depth |
15 to 300 feet |
| Diet |
Zooplankton and benthic invertebrates |
| Size |
8.5 inches |
| Abundance |
Fairly common |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific from East Africa to the Persian Gulf, Japan and French
Polynesia, absent from Hawaii |
| Notes |
Forms pairs and remains close to the bottom, may clean parasites from
other fishes |
| Similar species |
Heniochus diphreutes has a shorter snout
and forms aggregations high above the reef; subtropical |
Heniochus singularius
Waikiki Aquarium
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SINGULAR BANNERFISH
| Japanese name |
Shima-hatatatedai |
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| Habitat |
Deep lagoons and reef dropoffs |
| Depth |
To 130 feet |
| Diet |
Coral polyps |
| Size |
12 inches |
| Abundance |
Uncommon |
| Distribution |
Andaman Sea to Southern Japan and Samoa |
| Notes |
A wary species; black scales have light centers, white scales have
dark spot and edge |
| Similar species |
Heniochus monoceros has yellow on the anal fin, solid black
scales, interrupted black bar on face |
Heniochus monoceros
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Moon Beach, Okinawa, 15 feet
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MASKED BANNERFISH
| Japanese name |
Oni-hatatatedai |
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| Habitat |
Coral reefs and lagoons |
| Depth |
To 130 feet |
| Diet |
Coral polyps |
| Size |
12 inches |
| Abundance |
Uncommon |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific, East Africa to Japan and Pitcairn Island, absent from
Hawaii |
| Notes |
A wary species, less common than H. singularius in the Central
Pacific |
| Similar species |
Heniochus singularius lacks yellow on the anal fin |
Heniochus chrysostomus
Faga'alu, Tutuila, American Samoa, 10 feet
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Wakatobi, Indonesia |
Faga'alu, Tutuila, American Samoa, 10 feet |
Faga'alu, Tutuila, American Samoa, 10 feet |
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PENNANT BANNERFISH
| Japanese name |
Minami-hatatatedai |
| Habitat |
Coral reefs |
| Depth |
To 130 feet |
| Diet |
Coral polyps |
| Size |
7 inches |
| Abundance |
Common |
| Distribution |
Indo-Pacific from India to Japan and Pitcairn Island, absent from
Hawaii |
| Notes |
Forms pairs |
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