Banded Butterflyfish is a type of marine fish found in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Brazil to Bermuda.
It has several other names like Butterbun, Portuguese Butterfly, and School Mistress.
This fish’s name comes from its dark vertical bands that help break up its body shape as a defense against predators.
A black bar through the eye also helps with this. Banded butterflyfish lives in coral reefs and is found alone or in pairs.
Its diet consists of worms, coral polyps, crustaceans, and mollusk eggs. Sometimes, adults gather in groups of up to 20 for feeding on plankton.
Banded butterflyfish may even clean other reef fishes such as grunts, parrotfishes, and surgeon fishes that join their group.
This species is not safe for coral reefs.
Banded Butterflyfish Interesting Facts
- Banded butterflyfish have distinctive dark vertical bands for defense against predators.
- These fish form monogamous pairs during the breeding season and lay eggs.
- They grow up to 6.3 inches (16.0 centimeters) long, with unique markings on their body and fins.
- Found in tropical waters, they live near coral reefs at depths of 3 to 70 meters.
Banded Butterflyfish Habitat
Banded butterflyfish is found in the Western Atlantic, from Massachusetts, USA to Santa Catarina, Brazil.
It also lives in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and St. Paul’s Rocks in the Eastern Central Atlantic.
Banded butterflyfish is a marine species that lives near reefs at depths of 3 to 70 meters (usually 5 to 20 meters).
It thrives in tropical waters with a range of 41°N to 29°S latitude and 100°W to 28°W longitude.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Banded Butterflyfish Physical Characteristics
Size: 6.3 inches (16.0 centimeters)
Banded butterflyfish reaches maturity at around 4.9 inches (12.4 centimeters) in length and grows up to 6.3 inches (16.0 centimeters) long.
This fish has 12 dorsal spines, 19 to 21 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines, and 16 to 17 anal soft rays.
It has unique markings with two wide black stripes on its body sides and another stripe at the base of the dorsal fin that extends onto the tail base.
There are also wide black bands along the edges of its fins and black pelvic fins, except for the spine part.
Banded Butterflyfish Reproduction
Banded butterflyfish lay eggs (oviparous) and form monogamous pairs during the breeding season.
They mate with only one partner, and this behavior is seen as both necessary and social.
Banded Butterflyfish Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Chaetodontidae |
| Genus: | Chaetodon |
| Scientific Name: | Chaetodon striatus |
| Also Known As: | Banded Butterflyfish, Butterbun, Portuguese Butterfly, School Mistress |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |