Lined butterflyfish
One of the largest butterflyfish, with a wide Indo-Pacific range.
Last updated
dr.scott.mills · CC BY-SA 2.0
The lined butterflyfish (Chaetodon lineolatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae, one of the largest species in the genus Chaetodon. It is notable for its wide range from the Red Sea to South Africa and as far east as southern Japan and Hawaii, and for being among the largest butterflyfish, growing up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) long.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderAcanthuriformes
- FamilyChaetodontidae
- GenusChaetodon
- GenusChaetodon
- SpeciesChaetodon lineolatus
Named by G. Cuvier, 1831
Close relatives
Other species of Chaetodon with a Codexery entry.
- Saddle butterflyfish Chaetodon ephippium
- Banded butterflyfish Chaetodon striatus
- Black butterflyfish Chaetodon flavirostris
- Blackback butterflyfish Chaetodon melannotus
- Blacktail butterflyfish Chaetodon austriacus
- Bluecheek butterflyfish Chaetodon semilarvatus
- Bluelashed butterflyfish Chaetodon bennetti
- Bluestripe butterflyfish Chaetodon fremblii
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Lined butterflyfish (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 218734 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC)
- LC▲ this species
- NT
- VU
- EN
- CR
- EW
- EX
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.3 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Lined butterflyfish
Where the lined butterflyfish has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (3,639 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 18 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Background
The lined butterflyfish belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus, which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. In this group, it is sister to a clade composed of the spot-naped butterflyfish, the black-wedged butterflyfish, and the Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish. These four differ wildly in shape, but all have bluish vertical lines on a white body with yellow behind, and black on back and caudal peduncle in addition to the typical eyestripe of Chaetodon. The blue-cheeked butterflyfish is in turn sister to this entire clade, but it also has the tell-tale blue vertical lines.
The species occurs along the east coast of Africa including the Red Sea and Mozambique Channel, throughout Northern Australia including the Coral Sea, Gulf of Carpentaria, and Timor Sea, and throughout West Indo-Pacific including the Java Sea, South China Sea, Philippine Sea, and Celebes Sea. This uncommon fish is found in pairs or swimming alone, or occasionally in spawning aggregations. It occurs between 2 and 50 m depth, in coral-rich areas of reefs and lagoons.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Lined butterflyfish (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List assessment.
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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