Golden butterflyfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden butterflyfish |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chaetodon
|
| Species: |
aureofasciatus
|
The Chaetodon aureofasciatus, also known as the golden butterflyfish, is a type of marine fish. It is a beautiful butterflyfish that belongs to the family called Chaetodontidae. This fish eats coral and lives on shallow reefs in the western Pacific Ocean.
What it Looks Like
The golden butterflyfish has a whitish body. It has darker lines that cross each other, making it look a bit purple. Its tail, bottom, top, and side fins are all yellow.
It has a bright orange band that goes vertically through its eye. This band has black edges. Just behind its head, there is another thin orange band. The top fin has 11 strong spines and 20 to 22 soft rays. The bottom fin has 3 spines and 17 to 18 soft rays. This fish can grow up to about 12.5 centimeters (5 inches) long.
Where it Lives
The golden butterflyfish lives in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. You can find it along the northern coast of Australia. Its range stretches from Coral Bay in Western Australia to Moreton Bay in Queensland. It also lives in the southern parts of Papua New Guinea.
Home and Habits
Golden butterflyfish live on reefs near the coast and further out in the ocean. They often live on reefs that have a lot of silt, even near river mouths. These fish can handle water that has a lot of fresh water mixed in.
They are found at depths from about 1 to 20 meters (3 to 65 feet). You usually see them swimming in pairs or in small groups. This fish is an obligate corallivore, which means it only eats coral polyps. However, it can still survive in places where there isn't much coral. Scientists have noticed that this fish seems to eat a wider variety of food than other coral-eating butterflyfish. This might be because coral is declining. This could also explain why they sometimes move into water that is a mix of fresh and salt water.
Fish Family Tree
The golden butterflyfish was first officially described in 1878. It was named by William John Macleay, a Scottish-Australian who was a politician and studied animals and nature. The first place this fish was found and described was in Darwin, Australia.
This species is closely related to the eightband butterflyfish (C. octofasciatus). It is also related to Rainford's butterflyfish (C. rainfordi). The golden butterflyfish is known to hybridize with Rainford's butterflyfish, meaning they can have offspring together.
Being Kept as Pets
Sometimes, golden butterflyfish are caught for the aquarium trade. However, they are known to be quite difficult to keep alive and healthy in a home aquarium.
