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Bluecheek butterflyfish facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The blue-cheeked butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) is a beautiful butterflyfish that lives in the ocean. It's a type of ray-finned fish and belongs to the Chaetodontidae family. You can find this amazing fish swimming in the north-western Indian Ocean.


Quick facts for kids
Bluecheek butterflyfish
Peces mariposa del mar Rojo (Chaetodon semilarvatus), Temple, Sharm el-Sheij, Egipto, 2022-03-26, DD 13.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Genus:
Chaetodon
Species:
semilarvatus
Synonyms
  • Chaetodon melanopoma Playfair, 1867

What Does the Blue-Cheeked Butterflyfish Look Like?

This butterflyfish has a bright yellow body. It's decorated with thin, vertical red lines. Behind its eyes, you'll see a greyish patch. Most other butterflyfish have a dark stripe over their eyes instead.

All its fins are yellow. This includes its dorsal fin (on its back), anal fin (on its belly), pelvic fins (near its chest), and caudal fin (its tail).

The blue-cheeked butterflyfish is quite large for a butterflyfish. It can grow up to 23 centimetres (9.1 in) long. However, most of them are usually around 15 centimetres (5.9 in) in length.

Where Do Blue-Cheeked Butterflyfish Live?

You can find the blue-cheeked butterflyfish in the north-western part of the Indian Ocean. They live in the warm waters of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Their range extends as far east as the coast of Oman.

What is the Habitat and Life of This Fish?

The blue-cheeked butterflyfish loves areas with lots of coral. They are a common sight in places where corals grow richly. These fish are special because they often stay with the same partner for a long time.

What Do Blue-Cheeked Butterflyfish Eat?

In the wild, these fish enjoy eating hard corals. They also feed on small creatures that live on the ocean floor. These small animals are called benthic invertebrates.

How Do They Behave?

You will often see blue-cheeked butterflyfish swimming in pairs. Sometimes, they gather in small groups called shoals. They are known to hover still for long periods. They often do this under the ledges of flat, plate-like corals. These corals belong to a group called Acropora.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

The blue-cheeked butterflyfish lays eggs. This means they are an oviparous species. They form pairs when it's time to lay their eggs. This usually happens during the day. Interestingly, these fish are active at night. They live in waters that are between 1 and 20 metres (3.3 and 65.6 ft) deep.

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