Philippine butterflyfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philippine butterflyfish |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chaetodon
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| Species: |
adiergastos
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The Philippine butterflyfish (Chaetodon adiergastos) is a beautiful fish that lives in the ocean. People also call it the Bantayan butterflyfish or panda butterflyfish. It is a type of butterflyfish, which are known for their bright colors and patterns. You can find this fish in the western Pacific Ocean, from places like the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan all the way down to Java and northwestern Australia.
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About the Philippine Butterflyfish
What Does It Look Like?
The Philippine butterflyfish can grow up to 20 centimeters long, which is almost 8 inches. Its body is mostly white with cool brown stripes that go diagonally across its sides.
This fish has bright yellow fins! Its dorsal fin (on its back), caudal fin (tail fin), anal fin (on its belly), and pelvic fins (on its chest) are all yellow. It also has wide, black bands on its face that cover its eyes. There's even a separate black spot right in the middle of its forehead, making it look a bit like a panda!
Where Does It Live?
You can usually find Philippine butterflyfish living in coral reefs. They like to swim in waters that are not too deep, usually between 1 and 30 meters (about 3 to 100 feet) below the surface. They often hang out near soft coral.
These fish usually live in pairs or small groups. However, young Philippine butterflyfish are more independent. They prefer to live alone in shallow, protected reefs or in areas where rivers meet the sea, called estuaries.
Who Discovered This Fish?
The Philippine butterflyfish was first officially described in 1910. An American scientist named Alvin Seale (who lived from 1871 to 1958) was the one who gave it its scientific name. He found the first examples of this fish near Bantayan Island in the Philippines.
This fish belongs to a larger group of butterflyfishes. Many of these related species are also quite large and have an oval shape. Most of them also have a pattern of stripes that go upwards on their sides.
