Blackback Butterflyfish, Chaetodon melannotus Bloch & Schneider 1801
Other Names: Black-back Butterflyfish, Black-back Butterfly-fish, Blackbacked Butterflyfish, Black-backed Butterflyfish, Black-backed Butterfly-fish, Black-backed Coralfish
A Blackback Butterflyfish, Chaetodon melannotus, on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Source: fugm10 / Flickr. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
A whitish butterflyfish encircled in yellow, with many diagonal black lines on the side, black along the upper back, a black eye bar, a black saddle on the caudal peduncle, and yellow fins.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Thompson, A.S. 2020, Chaetodon melannotus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2386
Blackback Butterflyfish, Chaetodon melannotus Bloch & Schneider 1801
More Info
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Distribution |
Offshore reefs of northwestern Western Australia, and Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and the Torres Strait Islands, the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, and reefs in the Coral Sea, to at least Wollongong, New South Wales; also Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, and the Lord Howe Island region and Norfolk Island in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere the species occurs in the tropical, Indo-west-central Pacific. Inhabits coral-rich areas of lagoons, seaward reefs, and reef flats. Juveniles recruit to shallow habitats with rich coral growth, settling among branching Montipora coral. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin XII-XIII, 18-21; Anal fin III, 18-21; Pectoral fin 14-15; Lateral-line scales 33-39. |
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Size |
This species inhabits coral-rich areas of lagoons, seaward reefs, and reef flats. Occurs as individuals or in pairs, but noted to form aggregations, possibly to mass-spawn (Pratchett et al. 2006). It is an obligate corallivore, but feeds on both hard and soft corals (e.g., Pratchett 2005). It recruits to shallow coral reef habitats with rich coral growth, settling among branching Montipora. |
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Feeding |
An obligate corallivore - feeds on polyps of hard and soft corals. |
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Biology |
Juveniles settle out among branching Montipora corals on shallow reefs with rich coral growth. |
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Fisheries |
Although frequently collected for the aquarium trade, the species may be difficult to maintain due to its diet of live corals. |
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Conservation |
The Blackback Butterflyfish feeds on live coral and recruits to Montipora corals on the Great Barrier Reef. Climate-induced coral bleaching has resulted in significant population declines (Pratchett et al. 2006). |
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Similar Species |
Differs from the very similar Spot-tail Butterflyfish, Chaetodon ocellicaudus, in having a black saddle (vs a black spot) on the caudal-fin base, a black upper back, and a black spot or blotch on the anterior anal-fin base. |
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Species Citation |
Chaetodon melannotus Bloch & Schneider, 1801. Syst. Ichthyol.: 224. Type locality: Tranquebar, India. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. & Thompson, A.S. 2020 |
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Resources |
Blackback Butterflyfish, Chaetodon melannotus Bloch & Schneider 1801
References
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Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.
Allen, G.R., Hoese, D.F., Paxton, J.R., Randall, J.E., Russell, B.C., Starck, W.A., Talbot, F.H. & Whitley, G.P. 1976. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Lord Howe Island. Records of the Australian Museum 30(15): 365-454 figs 1-2
Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & Allen, M. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Cairns : Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research 250 pp. figs.
Allen, G.R., Steene, R.C. & Orchard, M. 2007. Fishes of Christmas Island. Christmas Island : Christmas Island Natural History Association 2 edn, 284 pp.
Allen, G.R. & Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 1994. Fishes of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin 412: 1-21.
Bloch, M.E. & Schneider, J.G. 1801. Systema Ichthyologiae Iconibus ex Illustratum. Berlin 584 pp. 110 pls.
Burgess, W.E. 1978. Butterflyfishes of the World. New Jersey : T.F.H. Publications Inc. 832 pp. figs.
Fessler, J.L. & Westneat, M.W. 2007. Molecular phylogenetics of the butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae): Taxonomy and biogeography of a global coral reef fish family. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45(1): 50–68. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.05.018 Abstract
Francis, M. 1993. Checklist of the coastal fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science 47(2): 136-170 figs 1-2
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Hobbs, J-P.A., Newman, S.J., Mitsopoulos, G.E.A., Travers, M.J., Skepper, C.L., Gilligan, J.J., Allen, G.R., Choat, H.J. & Ayling, A.M. 2014. Checklist and new records of Christmas Island fishes: the influence of isolation, biogeography and habitat availability on species abundance and community composition. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 30: 184–202
Hobbs, J-P.A., Newman, S .J., Mitsopoulos, G.E.A., Travers, M.J., Skepper, C.L., Gilligan, J.J., Allen, G.R., Choat, H.J. & Ayling, A.M. 2014. Fishes of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands: new records, community composition and biogeographic significance. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 30: 203–219
Hsu, K-C., Chen, J-P. & Shao, K-T. 2007. Molecular phylogeny of Chaetodon (Teleostei: Chaetodontidae) in the Indo-West Pacific: evolution in geminate species pairs and species groups. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 14: 77-86. PDF Open Access
Johnson, J.W. 2010. Fishes of the Moreton Bay Marine Park and adjacent continental shelf waters, Queensland, Australia. pp. 299-353 in Davie, P.J.F. & Phillips, J.A. Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Marine Biological Workshop, The Marine Fauna and Flora of Moreton Bay. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 54(3)
Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp.
Kuiter, R.H. 2002. Butterflyfishes, Bannerfishes and their Relatives. Chorleywood, U.K. : TMC Publishing 208 pp.
Marshall, T.C. 1964. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coastal Waters of Queensland. Sydney : Angus & Robertson 566 pp. 136 pls.
Pratchett, M.S. & Berumen, M.L. 2008. Interspecific variation in ditributions and diets of coral reef butterflyfishes (Teleostei: Chaetodontidae). Journal of Fish Biology 73: 1730-1747.
Pratchett, M.S., Munday, P.L., Wilson, S.K., Graham, N.A.J., Cinner, J.E., Bellwood, D.R., Jones, G.P., Polunin, N.V.C. & McClanahan, T.R. 2008. Effects of climate-induced coral bleaching on coral reef fishes - Ecological and economic consequences. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review 46: 251-296.
Pratchett, M.S., Wilson, S.K. & Baird, A.H. 2006. Declines in the abundance of Chaetodon butterflyfishes following extensive coral depletion. Journal of Fish Biology 69: 1269-1280.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 507 pp. figs.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.
Steene, R.C. 1978. Butterfly and Angelfishes of the World. Australia. Sydney : A.H. & A.W. Reed Vol. 1 144 pp. 216 figs.
