Arabian butterflyfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arabian butterflyfish |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chaetodon
|
| Species: |
melapterus
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Arabian butterflyfish (scientific name: Chaetodon melapterus) is a beautiful fish that lives in the ocean. It's a type of butterflyfish, known for its bright colors. You might also hear it called the blackfin butterflyfish or black-finned melon butterflyfish. You can find this fish in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean.
Contents
What Does the Arabian Butterflyfish Look Like?
The Arabian butterflyfish is mostly bright yellow. The back edge of its body is black. Its top fin (called the dorsal fin), bottom fin (called the anal fin), and tail fin (called the caudal fin) are also a deep black color.
This fish has three black stripes on its face:
- One stripe is on its snout, around its mouth.
- Another stripe goes right through its eye.
- The third stripe is just behind its eye.
The Arabian butterflyfish can grow up to about 13 centimeters (or 5 inches) long.
Where Does the Arabian Butterflyfish Live?
You can find the Arabian butterflyfish in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean. This includes places like:
- The Persian Gulf
- The southern coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, from the Gulf of Oman to the Gulf of Aden
- The southern Red Sea
Home and Habits of the Arabian Butterflyfish
The Arabian butterflyfish lives in shallow coral reefs close to the coast. It especially likes areas where there are lots of corals growing. These fish usually live in pairs, which means they stay with one partner. Sometimes, you might see a few of them together in a small group.
This butterflyfish is a very picky eater! It only eats polyps, which are the tiny, soft parts of corals. Because of this special diet, it's called an "obligate corallivore." When it's time to have babies, the fish form pairs to breed. They lay eggs, which is why they are called "oviparous." You can find them living at depths of about 2 to 16 meters (or 6.5 to 52 feet) underwater.
Naming the Arabian Butterflyfish
The Arabian butterflyfish was first officially described in 1863. A French scientist named Alphonse Guichenot gave it its scientific name.
This fish belongs to a group of butterflyfish that includes the blacktail butterflyfish (C. austriacus), the melon butterflyfish (C. trifasciatus), and the oval butterflyfish (C. lunulatus). They are all part of a smaller group called Corallochaetodon.
Can You Keep Them as Pets?
The Arabian butterflyfish is not a good choice for a home aquarium. This is because it has a very special diet of only coral polyps. It's very hard to give them the right food in a tank. While you might sometimes see them for sale, it's best to leave them in their natural ocean home.
