Family : Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Vagabond butterflyfish
Fish Name : Chaetodon vagabundus
Max size : 23.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 9710)
Environment : reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range - 30 m
Climate : tropical; 28°N - 32°S
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Red Sea (Ref. 5372) and East Africa to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the Lord Howe and the Austral islands. Closely related to Chaetodon decussatus.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22-25; Anal spines: 2-3; Anal soft rays: 19-22. Black bands over head and tail (Ref. 48636).
Biology : Found in reef flats, lagoon and seaward reefs and sometimes in turbid waters subject to freshwater runoff. Swim in pairs. Omnivorous, feed on algae, coral polyps, crustaceans and worms (Ref. 5503). Oviparous (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Stable monogamous pairs with both pair members jointly defending a feeding territory against other pairs (Ref. 58331), but often accompanies other species without being aggressive. Easily maintained in tanks
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Myers, R.F.. 1991. (Ref. 1602)

India country information
Common Names : चाँद, മഞ്ഞക്കളളി, മഞ്ഞക്കള്ളി , Chand, Handupholimas, Manjakkalli, Vagabond butterflyfish
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses