Eightband Butterflyfish, Chaetodon octofasciatus Bloch 1787

Other Names: Eight Striped Butterflyfish, Eightbanded Butterflyfish, Eight-banded Butterfly-fish, Eight-banded Coralfish, Eight-striped Butterflyfish

Summary:

A whitish to yellow butterflyfish with narrow black bars on the head and body, and a black spot on the caudal-fin base.

Cite this page as:

Dianne J. Bray, Chaetodon octofasciatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 21 Sep 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2390

Eightband Butterflyfish, Chaetodon octofasciatus Bloch 1787

More Info

Distribution	Recorded from Scott Reef, Western Australia. The species occurs elsewhere in the tropical east-Indo-west Pacific. Inhabits areas with extensive coral growth in shallow protected lagoons and inner reefs - often in turbid and silty waters. Juveniles often shelter amongst branching Acropora corals.
Feeding	An obligate coralivore - feeds only on coral polyps.
Fisheries	Although sometimes sold in the aquarium industry, this species feeds only on live corals and does not survive in captivity.
Species Citation	Chaetodon octofasciatus Bloch, 1787, Naturgesch. ausländisch. Fische 3: 113, pl. 215, fig. 1. Type locality: East Indies.
Author	Dianne J. Bray

Eightband Butterflyfish, Chaetodon octofasciatus Bloch 1787

References

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.

Bloch, M.E. 1787. Naturgeschichte der ausländischen Fische. Berlin : J. Morino Vol. 3 146 pp. pls 181-216.

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

Hutchins, J.B., Williams, D.McB., Newman, S.J., Cappo, M. & Speare, P. 1995. New records of fishes for the Rowley Shoals and Scott/Seringapatam Reefs, off north-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 17: 119-123.

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

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

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.

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.

Steene, R.C. 1978. Butterfly and Angelfishes of the World. Australia. Sydney : A.H. & A.W. Reed Vol. 1 144 pp. 216 figs.