Name: Copperband butterflyfish, beaked butterflyfish, beaked coralfish
Scientific Name: Chelmon rostratus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Chaetodontidae
Group: Bony fish
Class: Fish
Size: 11-25 cm.
These fish populate coral reefs and estuaries rich in seaweed and silt. During the day, they can be found alone or in pairs while they feed. At night, they rest on rocks and among corals.The black spot located in the posterior of the body leads predators astray, who confuse the spot for an eye. As such, when a predator thinks it is travelling towards the head, the copperband butterflyfish escapes in the opposite direction.
Photo by:
João Ribeiro (www.reefforum.net)
Oceanário Location
Living coral reef
