Speckled butterflyfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Speckled butterflyfish |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chaetodon
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| Species: |
citrinellus
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| Synonyms | |
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The speckled butterflyfish, also called the citron butterflyfish, is a beautiful fish from the butterflyfish family. Its scientific name is Chaetodon citrinellus. This fish lives in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific region. You can find it from the Red Sea and East Africa all the way to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Tuamotu islands. It also lives north to southern Japan and south to Australia.
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What Does the Speckled Butterflyfish Look Like?
As its names suggest, this fish is mostly pale yellow. It has many small, dark spots all over its body. There is also a black stripe that goes across its eye, both above and below it. The edge of its anal fin is black too. The biggest speckled butterflyfish ever recorded was about 13 centimeters (5 inches) long.
Where Does It Live and What Does It Eat?
The speckled butterflyfish is very common in shallow areas of reefs. It likes open spaces with scattered corals. You can often find it in lagoons and on seaward reefs. While it usually stays in shallow water, it can sometimes be found deeper, up to 36 meters (118 feet) down.
These fish enjoy eating small worms and tiny creatures that live on the ocean floor. They also munch on coral polyps and stringy algae.
Life Cycle and Behavior
Adult speckled butterflyfish usually swim around in pairs. These pairs form when they are ready to breed. They are oviparous, which means they lay eggs.
Young speckled butterflyfish, called juveniles, are often seen in small groups. They sometimes mix with other young fish of similar size. A common friend for them is the juvenile Sunburst Butterflyfish (C. kleinii).
Who Are Its Relatives?
The speckled butterflyfish is a unique species. Its closest relative is the fourspot butterflyfish (C. quadrimaculatus). Scientists study how these fish are related to understand their family tree better.
