Chaetodon blackburnii
A drab western Indian Ocean butterflyfish with yellow head and pelvic fins.
Chaetodon blackburnii, commonly known as the brownburnie, Blackburn's butterflyfish, or the rayed butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish in the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the western Indian Ocean and is notable for its comparatively drab coloration relative to other butterflyfish.
- Maximum total length
- 13 cm (5.1 in)
- Dorsal fin spines
- 16
- Dorsal fin soft rays
- 21-23
- Anal fin spines
- 3
- Anal fin soft rays
- 17-18
- First described by
- Julien Desjardins
- Year described
- 1836
- Type locality
- Mauritius
Lore & Background
The brownburnie is rather drab when compared to many of its congeners. Its body is mainly brownish black, with the head and front part of the body bright yellow and a black vertical bar running across the eye. The dark colour extends onto the dorsal and anal fins, while the pelvic fins are bright yellow. The dorsal fin contains 16 spines and 21-23 soft rays; the anal fin has 3 spines and 17-18 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 13 centimetres (5.1 in).
The brownburnie inhabits shallow rocky reefs and calm bays with limited growth of coral. It is found either solitarily or in pairs. It is omnivorous, feeding on benthic invertebrates such as bivalves, soft coral polyps, crustaceans, and worms, as well as zooplankton. It is an oviparous species in which males and females mate as pairs.
The species was first formally described in 1836 by the French naturalist Julien Desjardins, with the type locality given as Mauritius. The specific name honours the English jurist Edward Berens Blackburn, who was Chief Justice of Mauritius from 1824 to 1835 and president of the Société d'Histoire Naturelle de l'Ile Maurice.
Reader's Guide
The brownburnie is rarely seen in the aquarium trade because of its comparatively drab colouration. Its distribution in the western Indian Ocean extends along the East African coast from Kenya to the Mbhashe River in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, and it has also been recorded from the French Southern and Antarctic Lands in the Mozambique Channel islands, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rodrigues, and Réunion. Despite its subdued appearance, the species plays a role in its ecosystem as an omnivore feeding on benthic invertebrates and zooplankton. Its pairing behavior during mating and its preference for shallow rocky reefs and calm bays with limited coral growth define its ecological niche. The species' naming after Edward Berens Blackburn, a prominent jurist and natural history society president in Mauritius, ties it to colonial natural history efforts in the Indian Ocean.
Did You Know?
- The brownburnie is also known as Blackburn's butterflyfish or the rayed butterflyfish.
- Its body is mainly brownish black with a bright yellow head and front part of the body.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chaetodon blackburnii?
Chaetodon blackburnii is a small marine butterflyfish in the family Chaetodontidae, going by common names like the brownburnie, Blackburn's butterflyfish, or the rayed butterflyfish. The species was first formally described by the ichthyologist Julien Desjardins.
What does Chaetodon blackburnii look like?
Unlike many of its more flamboyant butterflyfish relatives, this species is notably drab in overall body coloration. Its most eye-catching features are a bright yellow head and yellow pelvic fins that stand out against the otherwise muted body.
Where does Chaetodon blackburnii live?
The brownburnie is restricted to the western Indian Ocean, where it inhabits marine reef habitats. It does not extend into the Pacific or Atlantic basins, making it a regionally endemic butterflyfish.
How big does Chaetodon blackburnii get?
It reaches a maximum total length of roughly 13 cm (about 5.1 inches), placing it among the smaller butterflyfish. Its fin formula includes 16 dorsal spines with 21–23 soft rays, 3 anal spines, and 17–18 anal soft rays.
Why is Chaetodon blackburnii notable among butterflyfish?
It stands out in the otherwise vividly patterned Chaetodontidae family precisely because of its comparatively plain, drab coloration. Combined with its limited western Indian Ocean range, it gives reef divers a distinctly understated butterflyfish to spot.
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