Hemitaurichthys zoster

Hemitaurichthys zoster, commonly known as the brown-and-white butterflyfish or black pyramid butterflyfish, is a marine fish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae native to the Indian Ocean.

Hemitaurichthys zoster

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Chaetodontidae
Genus: Hemitaurichthys
Species:
H. zoster
Binomial name
Hemitaurichthys zoster
(Bennett, 1831)
Synonyms
  • Chaetodon zoster Bennett, 1831
  • Hemitaurichtys zoster (Bennett, 1831)
  • Tetragonoptrus zoster (Bennett, 1831)

Description

The black pyramid butterflyfish is a small-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 18 cm.[2][3]

Its body is compressed laterally with a rounded body profile. The snout is somewhat stretched with a small terminal protractile mouth. The body is black, crossed in its center by a broad white trapezoid band with a yellow top, corresponding to the center of the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is white.

Distribution & ecology

The black pyramid butterflyfish is widespread throughout tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean from the eastern coast of Africa to Java in Indonesia and from India to Mauritius.[1][2] It lives in large schools on outer reef slopes, from which it can sally into open water to feed on plankton.[4] The species is found at depths of 3–40 meters.[5][6]

Conservation status

As a planktivore, the species may be affected by climate-induced reductions in planktonic productivity. As there do not appear to be any specific current threats, it is listed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.[1]

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References
  1. Myers, R. & Pratchett, M. (2010). "Hemitaurichthys zoster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T165719A6101058. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165719A6101058.en.
  2. Lieske & Myers (2009). Coral reef fishes. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691089959.
  3. Heemstra, P.C. (1986). "Chaetodontidae". In M.M. Smith; P.C. Heemstra (eds.). Smiths' sea fishes. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. pp. 627–632.
  4. Anderson, C.; Hafiz, A. (1987). Common reef fishes of the Maldives. Part 1. Republic of Maldives: Novelty Press.
  5. Rudie Kuiter (2004). Chaetodontidae & Microcanthidae. Aquatic Photographics. ISBN 0953909735.
  6. Allen, G.R.; Erdmann, M.V. (2012). Reef fishes of the East Indies. Tropical Reef Research. I-III. Perth, Australia: Universitiy of Hawai'i Press.


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