Yellow teardrop butterflyfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow teardrop butterflyfish |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chaetodon
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| Species: |
interruptus
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The yellow teardrop butterflyfish (Chaetodon interruptus) is a beautiful fish that lives in the ocean. It's also called the Indian teardrop butterflyfish. This fish belongs to a group called butterflyfish, known for their bright colors. You can find them in the Indian Ocean, all the way from East Africa to Sumatra, Indonesia.
Contents
What It Looks Like
The yellow teardrop butterflyfish has a bright yellow body. Its body is flat and shaped like a disc, almost like a pancake. It has a big black spot on its side, which looks like a teardrop.
You'll also see black stripes on its body. One stripe goes through its eye. Another black stripe is near its tail, running from its top fin (dorsal fin) to its bottom fin (anal fin). Its tail is white, and the fin on its tail is clear. This fish also has lighter zigzag patterns going down its sides.
How They Change as They Grow
When these fish are young, they look a bit different. The black spot on their side is rounder, not teardrop-shaped. It might even have a hint of blue. Young fish also have a white ring around this black spot.
As they get older, this white ring turns yellow. The round black spot then changes into the teardrop shape you see on adult fish.
Fins and Size
This fish has two main fins on its back. The first part has 12 to 13 sharp spines. The second part has 21 to 23 soft rays. Its bottom fin has 3 spines and 18 to 20 soft rays. The yellow teardrop butterflyfish can grow up to 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) long.
Where It Lives
The yellow teardrop butterflyfish lives in the Indian Ocean. You can find it along the coast of East Africa, from Somalia down to South Africa. It also lives east towards Sumatra and western Thailand. This includes many islands in the Indian Ocean and southern India.
Home and Habits
The yellow teardrop butterflyfish lives in many different ocean places. You can find them on flat coral reefs or on deep slopes. Adult fish usually swim around in pairs. Sometimes, they might gather in small groups to look for food.
Life Cycle and Diet
These fish lay eggs to have babies. This is called being oviparous. The male and female fish form pairs when it's time to breed.
They eat a variety of foods, which means they are omnivores. Their diet includes pieces of hard and soft corals, sponges, small worms (called polychaetes), and stringy algae.
Keeping Them as Pets
The yellow teardrop butterflyfish is sometimes kept in home aquariums. However, it's not very common. People who keep them say they are moderately difficult to care for.
