Family : Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Brown-and-white butterflyfish
Fish Name : Hemitaurichthys zoster
Max size : 18.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 5372)
Environment : reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range - 1 m
Climate : tropical; - 28°S
Global Importance : fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indian Ocean: East Africa to Guam (Ref. 35721), north to India, south to Mauritius.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-26; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 21-21. Readily identified by the black body with a broad white band and white tail (Ref. 48636).
Biology : Inhabit open water off the reef edge (Ref. 6113), to depths greater than 35 m (Ref. 9710). Form large schools. Feed on zooplankton and algae (Ref. 5503) above the reef (Ref. 5372). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Heemstra, P.C.. 1986. (Ref. 5372)

India country information
Common Names : പക്കി ക്കടിയ , പക്കിക്കടിയന്, Handupholimas, Pakkikkadiya
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses