Prognathodes aculeatus
A solitary West Atlantic butterflyfish with a distinctive long snout.
The longsnout butterflyfish, *Prognathodes aculeatus*, lives in tropical West Atlantic waters. It goes by several other names, including butterbun, Caribbean longsnout butterflyfish, and Poey's butterflyfish. People sometimes mix it up with the banded longsnout butterflyfish (*Chelmon rostratus*).
Felipe Poey y Aloy and Albert C. L. G. Günther first described this species in 1860, each in separate reports. Between them, they gave the fish three different scientific names in three different genera, but Poey’s placement in *Prognathodes* is the only valid one. Sauvage described it again in 1880 under another name, which later became a synonym of *P. aculeatus*.
This fish averages 2 to 3 inches (5–7.5 cm) long. Its most noticeable feature is its long snout, which is much more pronounced than in similar species. A dusky-to-yellow stripe runs almost vertically from the top of the head to the eyes—unlike other butterflyfishes, whose stripes extend past the eyes. The upper half of the body is yellow, shifting to orange and then darkening to brownish-orange. The dorsal fin is usually black.
Fairly common across its range, the longsnout butterflyfish lives on natural and artificial reefs, typically at depths of 30 to 200 feet (10–60 m). It can be found off Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and off the coast of Venezuela.
More solitary than many of its relatives, it prefers deeper reefs and spends a lot of time foraging in crevices for invertebrates. It also eats the tube feet of sea urchins and the tentacles of tube worms. Unlike many other butterflyfishes, it does not pick parasites off other fish.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Prognathodes aculeatus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The longsnout butterflyfish was first described in 1860 by Felipe Poey y Aloy and Albert C. L. G. Günther in two separate reports. Between them the fish was given three separate scientific names each in a different genus, though Poey's assignment of the species to Prognathodes is the only valid combination. It was again described in 1880 by Sauvage who gave it yet another scientific name that has since been synonymized into P. aculeatus.
An average of 2 to 3 in (5–7.5 cm) long, the longsnout butterflyfish is commonly known for its namesake long snout that is much more distinctive than those of similar species. They also have a dusky to yellow colored stripe that runs almost vertically from the top of the head to the eyes, unlike the stripes on other butterflyfishes which extend past the eyes. The upper half of the longsnout butterflyfish is yellow that changes to orange and again darkens to brownish-orange. The dorsal fin of the fish is usually black.
Fairly common throughout its range, the longsnout butterflyfish is found on natural and artificial reefs, usually 30 to 200 ft (10–60 m) in depth. It can be found off Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, in the Caribbean Sea, and off the coast of Venezuela.
Reader's Guide
The longsnout butterflyfish is notable for its solitary behavior, which is much more pronounced than in many other members of its family. It inhabits deeper reefs and spends much of its time foraging in recesses for invertebrates. Its diet includes the tube feet of sea urchins and tube worm tentacles. Unlike many other members of its family, the longsnout butterflyfish does not pick parasites from other fish. This species may often be confused with the banded longsnout butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus), but its distinctive vertical stripe from the top of the head to the eyes and its long snout help differentiate it. The species was first described in 1860 by two naturalists in separate reports, leading to multiple scientific names, but only Prognathodes aculeatus is valid. Its range includes Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the coast of Venezuela, where it is fairly common on reefs at depths of 30 to 200 ft.
Did You Know?
- This species does not pick parasites from other fish, unlike many other members of its family.
- It is also known as the butterbun, the Caribbean longsnout butterflyfish, or Poey's butterflyfish.
More in Butterflyfish, Part 3 1-24
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