- Classification
- ACTINOPTERYGII
- PERCIFORMES
- CHAETODONTIDAE
- Chaetodon
- madagaskariensis
Madagascar Butterflyfish, Chaetodon madagaskariensis Ahl 1923
Other Names: Indian Ocean Chevron Butterflyfish, Pearlscale Butterflyfish, Pearly Butterflyfish, Pearscale Butterflyfish, Seychelles Butterflyfish
A Madagascar Butterflyfish, Chaetodon madagaskariensis, from Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Source: Sally Polack / FishWise Professional. License: CC BY Attribution-Noncommercial-ShareAlike
Summary:
A whitish to pale grey butterflyfish with dark grey chevron markings on the sides, a broad orange to reddish-orange band across the rear of the body, a black bar through the eye, and a pale-edged black spot on the forehead.
Occurs at the Australian territories of Christmas Island & Cocos-(Keeling) Islands.
Occurs at the Australian territories of Christmas Island & Cocos-(Keeling) Islands.
Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray & Audrey S. Thompson, Chaetodon madagaskariensis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4833
Madagascar Butterflyfish, Chaetodon madagaskariensis Ahl 1923
More Info
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Distribution |
Elsewhere, the Madagascar Butterflyfish is widespread in the Indian Ocean from the East Africa and Madagascar, to Sri Lanka, Cocos-Keeling Islands, Christmas Island, and western Sumatra. Inhabits lagoons and outer reef slopes, often near drop-offs and on steep slopes. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin XII-XIII, 18-20; Anal fin III, 15-17; Pectoral fin 14-15; Lateral-line scales 34-41. |
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Feeding |
Feeds on benthic invertebrates and algae. |
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Similar Species |
The similar Merten's Butterflyfish, Chaetodon mertensii, which has a dark greyish smudge on the forehead instead of a large dark pale-edged spot. |
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Species Citation |
Chaetodon chrysurus madagaskariensis Ahl, 1923, Archiv für Naturgesch. A 89(5): 163. Type locality: Madagascar, southwestern Indian Ocean. |
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Author |
Dianne J. Bray & Audrey S. Thompson |
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Resources |
Australian Faunal Directory |
Madagascar Butterflyfish, Chaetodon madagaskariensis Ahl 1923
References
Ahl, E. 1923. Zur Kenntnis der Knochenfischfamilie Chaetodontidae, insbesondere der Unterfamilie Chaetodontinae. Archiv für Naturgeschichte A 89(5): 1-205 pls 1-3
Allen, G.R. 1980. Butterfly and Angelfishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons Vol. 2 pp. 149-352 figs 214-510.
Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.
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.
Burgess, W.E. 1978. Butterflyfishes of the World. New Jersey : T.F.H. Publications Inc. 832 pp. figs.
Kuiter, R.H. 2002. Butterflyfishes, Bannerfishes and their Relatives. Chorleywood, U.K. : TMC Publishing 208 pp.
Harmelin-Vivien, M.L., 1989. Implications of feeding specialization on the recruitment processes and community structure of butterflyfishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 25(1/3): 101-110.
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.
