Pyramid Butterflyfish, Hemitaurichthys polylepis (Bleeker 1857)
A Pyramid Butterflyfish, Hemitaurichthys polylepis, on Holmes Reef in the Coral Sea, November 2016. Source: Ian Shaw / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Summary:
A striking butterflyfish with a large white pyramid-shaped marking on the sides, white caudal, pectoral and pelvic fins, a brown head and the rest of the body bright yellow.
Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Hemitaurichthys polylepis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 13 Nov 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/426
Pyramid Butterflyfish, Hemitaurichthys polylepis (Bleeker 1857)
More Info
Distribution |
Found in Australia from Rowley Shoals, WA, Darwin, NT, Boot Reef and Frederick Reef, Coral Sea, and Lizard Island, QLD to Ballina, NSW. Elsewhere, widespread in the East-Indo-west-central Pacific, including Cocos (Keeling) and Christmas islands. Inhabits steep current-swept outer reef slopes, especially near drop-offs. Forms large feeding aggregations high in the water column. |
Feeding |
Forms large shoals of up to several hundred individuals feeding on zooplankton high in the water column. |
Species Citation |
Chaetodon polylepis Bleeker, 1857, Acta Societatis Scientiarum Indo-Neerlandicae 2: 54. Type locality: Ambon (as Amboina), Indonesia. |
Author |
Dianne J. Bray |
Pyramid Butterflyfish, Hemitaurichthys polylepis (Bleeker 1857)
References
Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls.
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. A monograph of the Family Chaetodontidae. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey.
Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Biodiversity of shallow reef fish assemblages in Western Australia using a rapid censusing technique. Records of the Western Australian Museum 20: 247-270.
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)
Larson, H.K. & Williams, R.S. 1997. Darwin Harbour fishes: a survey and annotated checklist. pp. 339-380 in Hanley, H.R., Caswell, G., Megirian, D. & Larson, H.K. (eds). The Marine Flora and Fauna of Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, Australia. Proceedings of the Sixth International Marine Biology Workshop. Darwin : Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory 466 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.
Myers, R. & Pratchett, M. 2010. Hemitaurichthys polylepis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2.
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. 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.