Family : Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Blackback butterflyfish
Fish Name : Chaetodon melannotus
Max size : 18.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 56281); max. reported age: 20 years
Environment : reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range 4 - 20 m
Climate : tropical; 30°N - 30°S
Global Importance : aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K = 0.14, tmax = 20)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. Throughout Micronesia.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 12-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-21; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 16-18. Changes color when frightened or when observed at night. The dorsal portion of the body turns black except for two white patches.
Biology : Usually solitary or in pairs in coral-rich areas of reef flats, lagoons, and seaward reefs to a depth of over 15 m. Juveniles inshore. In pairs or traveling in small groups (Ref. 48636). Feed on octocorallian and scleractinian coral polyps. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Easy to maintain in the aquarium. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Myers, R.F.. 1991. (Ref. 1602)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses