Family : Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Eightband butterflyfish
Fish Name : Chaetodon octofasciatus
Max size : 12.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 9710)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 3 - 20 m
Climate : tropical; 20°N - 30°S
Global Importance : aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: East Indies and the Philippines, through Papua New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef to the Solomon Island, Palau, and north to China; extends into the Indian Ocean at least to the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 10-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-19; Anal spines: 3-4; Anal soft rays: 14-17. White to yellowish below with 7 black stripes over head and sides, one centrally on snout and another as a strong black margin on end of dorsal and anal fins. Third line extends onto ventral fin (Ref. 48636).
Biology : Swim in pairs in coral rich areas of sheltered lagoon and inshore reefs; juveniles seen in groups among Acropora corals. Feed exclusively on coral polyps. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205)
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