Mirror butterflyfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mirror butterflyfish |
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| Genus: |
Chaetodon
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| Species: |
speculum
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The mirror butterflyfish or oval-spot butterflyfish (Chaetodon speculum) is a type of butterflyfish. These colorful fish belong to the family Chaetodontidae. You can find them in the Indo-Pacific region. This area stretches from Indonesia all the way to Japan. They also live south near the Great Barrier Reef and Papua New Guinea. Sometimes, they are even spotted near Madagascar, Mauritius, and Réunion.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The mirror butterflyfish can grow up to 18 centimeters (about 7 inches) long. Its body is a bright orange-yellow color. It has a large black spot right below its dorsal fin (the fin on its back). There is also a black stripe that goes vertically through its eye.
Fins and Features
This fish has special fins. Its dorsal fin has 14 strong spines and 17 to 18 soft rays. The anal fin, which is on its underside, has 3 spines and 15 to 16 soft rays. These fins help it swim and move around the coral reefs.
Where Does It Live?
The mirror butterflyfish lives in coral reefs. It prefers depths between 3 and 30 meters (about 10 to 100 feet). They like coastal reef slopes. These areas are often rich in small animals like hydroids and sea anemones. Young mirror butterflyfish often hide in thick coral patches to stay safe.
Social Life and Diet
Usually, you will find this species swimming alone. They are not very common. Mirror butterflyfish are carnivores. They enjoy eating coral polyps and other small invertebrates.
Who Discovered This Fish?
The mirror butterflyfish was first officially described in 1831. A French anatomist named Georges Cuvier (1769-1832) gave it its scientific name. He noted that the first specimen was found near Jakarta.
Family Connections
The mirror butterflyfish is part of a group of butterflyfish called Tetrachaetodon. These fish often have angular yellow bodies with black eye stripes. They also have a single patch of a different color. The Zanzibar butterflyfish (Chaetodon zanzibarensis) is a close relative. It has a smaller black spot and faint horizontal stripes on its sides.
