Indian Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon decussatus Cuvier 1831


Other Names: Blackened Butterflyfish, Black-finned Vagabond

An Indian Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon decussatus, at Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia. Source: Graham Edgar / Reef life Survey. License: CC By Attribution

Summary:
A pale greyish butterflyfish with a chevron pattern of dark narrow lines on the side, a broad black area across the rear of the body and dorsal fin, and bright pale yellow bars on the tail.

Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray & Audrey S. Thompson, Chaetodon decussatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2379

Indian Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon decussatus Cuvier 1831

More Info


Distribution

Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea (12°11'S), and Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. The species occurs elsewhere in the tropical Indo-west Pacific. Inhabits areas with rich coral growth, also rubble and rocky areas, often in turbid water. 

Feeding

Feeds mostly on algae, benthic invertebrates and coral polyps.

Species Citation

Chaetodon decussatus Cuvier, 1831, Hist. Nat. Poiss. 7: 54. Type locality: Pondicherry, India.

Author

Dianne J. Bray & Audrey S. Thompson

Indian Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon decussatus Cuvier 1831

References


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. 1996. New records of reef and shore fishes from northwestern Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 18: 109-112.
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. & 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.

Burgess, W.E. 1978. Butterflyfishes of the World. New Jersey : T.F.H. Publications Inc. 832 pp. figs.

Cuvier, G.L. in Cuvier, G.L. & Valenciennes, A. 1831. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. Paris : Levrault Vol. 7 531 pp. pls 170-208.

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. Abstract

Hobbs, J.-P.A., Frisch, A.J. Hender, J. & Gilligan, J.J. 2007. New records of angelfishes (Pomacanthidae) and butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) from Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) islands, Indian Ocean. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 90: 107-109.

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

Kuiter, R.H. 2002. Butterflyfishes, Bannerfishes and their Relatives. Chorleywood, U.K. : TMC Publishing 208 pp.

Myers, R. & Pratchett, M. 2010. Chaetodon decussatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. . Downloaded on 15 August 2015.

Pyle, R. 2001. Chaetodontidae, Pomacanthidae. pp. 3224-3286 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 5 2791-3379 pp.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37365085

Danger:IUCN Least Concern

Depth:1-40 m

Fishing:Aquarium fish

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:20.0 cm TL

Species Image Gallery

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map