Japanese butterflyfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Japanese butterflyfish |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Chaetodon
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| Species: |
nippon
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The Japanese butterflyfish (Chaetodon nippon) is a beautiful fish. It lives in the northwest Pacific Ocean. You can find it in shallow seas around Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan. It is also known as the Shirako butterflyfish.
Contents
What Does the Japanese Butterflyfish Look Like?
This butterflyfish has a body that is deep and flat from side to side. It can grow up to 15 cm (6 in) long. Its body is a creamy-brown color with dark brown edges.
The top fin, called the dorsal fin, has 12 or 13 sharp spines. It also has 18 to 20 soft rays. The bottom fin, called the anal fin, has 3 spines and 15 or 16 soft rays.
Young Japanese butterflyfish have a special "eyespot" on their soft dorsal fin. This spot looks like a big eye. It helps to trick predators. As the fish grows older, this eyespot slowly fades away.
Where Does This Fish Live?
The Japanese butterflyfish lives in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It is found near Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan. It is very common around the Izu Islands in Japan.
This fish loves rocky coastal areas. It lives near coral reefs and rocks along the coast. Scientists have seen it at depths of 5 and 20 metres (16 and 66 ft). It might also live in deeper waters.
What Does the Japanese Butterflyfish Eat?
The Japanese butterflyfish is a benthic fish. This means it lives near the bottom of the sea. It is an omnivore, so it eats both plants and animals. Its diet includes polychaete worms, crabs, and other small creatures without backbones, called invertebrates. These fish often swim around in groups, both large and small.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Many butterflyfish gather in large groups when they lay eggs. This is called spawning. However, Japanese butterflyfish have been seen spawning in pairs.
Scientists have studied how the young of this fish develop. When the tiny fish hatch, they are called larvae. They float upside down near the water's surface. After about three days, they start swimming. They eat tiny sea creatures called zooplankton, like baby oysters.
When the larvae are ready to settle down, they are attracted to lights at night. At this time, their colors change very quickly. They transform into the colors of young adult fish.
Is the Japanese Butterflyfish Endangered?
This fish lives in many places and is quite common. It is especially abundant around the Izu Islands. People do not often catch it for aquariums. Its population seems to be stable.
Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says it is a species of "least concern." This means it is not in danger of disappearing.
