Chaetodon austriacus (Exquisite butterflyfish)

Identification

Yellow with thin horizontal black stripes and black anal- and tail fins, one of the horizontal stripes has a wider streak with black, the dorsal fin is white. Territorial and usually in pairs. Mainly diurnal (active during daytime).

Status

Least concern on the IUCN Red list. Although is confined to a fairly small habitat, the global population seems stable.

Habitat

Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Found in coral rich areas; juveniles confined to single coral heads, in a depth range of 1-15 meters.

Reproduction

Oviparous breeder, they form pairs during this time.

Size

Up to 13cm.

Prey / Predation

It feeds mainly on the soft polyps of corals, such as Acropora, Porites and Pocillopora.

Special features