Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus 1758
Other Names: Crisscross Butterflyfish, Criss-cross Butterfly-fish, Vagabond Butterfly-fish, Vagabond Coralfish, Vagabond's Butterflyfish
A Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon vagabundus, at Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia. Source: Ian V. Shaw / Reef Life Survey. License: CC By Attribution
Summary:
A butterflyfish two series of narrow dark oblique lines set at right angles to each other (chevron pattern) on a whitish background. The Vagabond Butterflyfish also has a broad black band through the eye, a second band through the caudal peduncle, a third through the middle of the caudal fin, and fine orange stripes across the forehead. Juveniles also have a black spot at the rear of the dorsal fin.
Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Chaetodon vagabundus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 18 Jan 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2405
Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus 1758
More Info
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Distribution |
From reefs in the Kimberley region, Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef , Western Australia, Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea, and Ashmore Reef in the Coral Sea, and the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, to central New South Wales with juveniles as far south as Merimbula. It also occurs in the Lord Howe Island Province in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere, the Vagabond Butterflyfish is widespread and often abundant in the Indo-west-central Pacific. It inhabits reef areas including inner coastal reef flats, lagoons, and outer seaward reef slopes. It tolerates a range of environmental conditions, including turbid waters and freshwater influxes near stream mouths. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin XIII, 23-15; Anal fin III, 19-22; pectroal fin 14-15; Lateral line scales 34-40. |
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Feeding |
Feeds on benthic invertebrates including anemones, coral polyps, polychaete worms, and on algae. |
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Remarks |
Synonyms of Chaetodon vagabundus: Chaetodon mesogallicus Cuvier, 1829Chaetodon nesogallicus Cuvier, 1829Chaetodon pictus Forsskål, 1775Chaetodon setifer hawaiiensis Borodin, 1930Chaetodon vagabundus pictus Forsskål, 1775Tetragonoptrus nesogallicus (Cuvier, 1829)Tetragonoptrus vagabundus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
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Species Citation |
Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, 1758, Systema Naturae 1: 276. Type locality: Indies. |
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Author |
Dianne J. Bray |
Vagabond Butterflyfish, Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus 1758
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. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls.
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.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
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
Gill, A.C. & Reader, S.E. 1992. Fishes. pp. 90-93 in Hutchings, P. (ed.). Reef Biology. A Survey of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, South Pacific. Canberra : Australian National Parks Vol. 3, Kowari 230 pp.
Grant, E.M. 1975. Guide to Fishes. Brisbane : Queensland Government, Co-ordinator General’s Department 640 pp.
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.
Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per Regna tria Naturae, secundem Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentis, Synonymis, Locis. Tom.1 Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae : Laurentii Salvii 824 pp.
Oxley, W.G., Ayling, A.M., Cheal, A.J. & Osborne, K. 2004. Marine surveys undertaken in the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve, December 2003. Townsville : Australian Institute of Marine Sciences 64 pp.
Pratchett, M.S. 2005. Dietary overlap among coral-feeding butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) at Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef. Marine Biology 148: 373-382.
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., 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.
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.
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.
