Chaetodon decussatus

• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• Bibliography
• More Info
• Notes

Common Names

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Description

Family Chaetodontidae

Atlantic (tropical to temperate ), Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Primarily Indo-west Pacific . Highly compressed body. Dorsal fin continuous, with 6-16 spines and 15-30 soft rays . Spines in anal fin 3-5, usually 3, and 14-23 soft rays. Caudal fin with 15 branched rays , rounded to emarginate . Scales extend onto anal and dorsal fins. Mouth small, terminal and protrusible with a band or rows of small brushlike teeth. Gut coiled several times. Two anteriorly directed processes in swim bladder. Vertebrae 24 (11+13). Most with bright coloration , a dark band across the eye and an 'eyespot' dorsally . Generally near coral reefs. Typically diurnal . Many feed on a combination of coelenterate polyps or tentacles , small invertebrates , fish eggs , and filamentous algae while others are specialists or planktivores . Most species occur as heterosexual pairs. Pelagic spawners. Tholichthys larval stage with the head region covered with bony plates . Some of the planktivores and generalists do well in the aquarium , but most species are difficult to maintain, and obligate corallivores nearly impossible. Chaet- (gr.) = bristle , odont- (gr.) = toothThe family Chaetodontidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes ) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 10 genera and 114 species. It may be found in Marine and Brackish environments and is primarily Marine. Many members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is balistiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the lower Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period. Etymology of this family name : Greek, chaite = hair + Greek, odous, odontos = tooth , teeth. 1750

Physical Description

Habitat

Found on rich coral reefs, also on rubble and rocky areas. Excellent aquarium fish.

Biome: Saltwater . Reef-associated .

Biology

Diet

Feeds largely on algae and coral polyps, but captive ones will accept a wide variety of food.

Migration

Non-migratory.

Behavior

Adults in pairs, juveniles solitary.

Taxonomy

Ambiguous Synonyms

1. Anisochaetodon pictus (non Linnaeus)
2. Chaetodon pictus (non Forssk�l)
3. Chaetodon vagabundus Linnaeus, 1758

Unambiguous Synonyms

1. Chaetodon decussatus Cuvier, 1829
2. Chaetodon vagabundus subsp. jordani Ahl, 1923

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 31-May-1994

Similar Species

Members of the genus Chaetodon

There are approximately 175 species in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

C. 4-radiatus · C. adiergastos (Bantayan Butterflyfish) · C. adierogastos · C. andamanensis (Yellow Butterflyfish) · C. argentatus (Asian Butterflyfish) · C. arthriticus · C. assarius (Assarius Butterflyfish) · C. atrinellus · C. aureofasciatus (Golden Butterflyfish) · C. auripes · C. auriga (Cross-Stripe Butterfly) · C. auriga setifier · C. auripes (Golden Butterflyfish) · C. austriacus (Blacktail Butterflyfish) · C. baronessa (Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish) · C. bellicosus · C. bennetti (Archer Butterflyfish) · C. bimaculatis · C. blackburnii (Blackburn's Butterflyfish) · C. burgessi (Black-Barred Butterflyfish) · C. capistratus (Butterbun) · C. capostratus · Etroplus suratensis · C. caudifasciatus · C. madagaskariensis · C. chrysurus madagaskariensis · C. chrysurus paucifasciatus · C. citharoedus · C. citrinellus (Citron Butterfly) · C. citrinellus semipunctatus · C. collare (Brown Butterflyfish) · C. collare duplicicollis · C. collare knerii · C. auripes · C. auripes · C. daedalma (Wrought Iron Butterflyfish) · C. declivis (Marquesan Butterflyfish) · C. declivis wilderi · C. decussatus (Black-Finned Vagabond) · C. dialeucos (Oman Butterflyfish) · C. dolosus (African Butterflyfish) · C. auripes · C. ephippium (Blackblotch Butterflyfish) · C. ephippoium · C. epphipium · C. excelsa (Hawaiian Gold-Barred Butterflyfish) · Drepane punctata · C. falcula (Blackwedged Butterflyfish) · C. fasciatus (Diagonal Butterflyfish) · C. festivus · C. flavirostris (Black Butterflyfish) · C. flavissimus · C. flavocoronatus (Yellow-Crowned Butterflyfish) · C. frembli · C. fremblii (Blue-Lined Butterfly) · C. gardineri (Gardiner's Butterflyfish) · C. guentheri · C. guentheri (Crochet Butterflyfish) · C. dolosus · C. guttatisimus · C. guttatissimus (Gorgeous Gussy) · C. hemichrysus (Half-Yellow Butterflyfish) · C. hoefleri (Four-Banded Butterfly Fish) · C. humeralis (Muneca) · C. interrruptus · C. interruptus (Yellow Teardrop Butterflyfish) · C. jayakari (Indian Golden-Barred Butterflyfish) · C. kleinii (Blacklip Butterflyfish) · C. lanula · C. larvatus (Blue Chevron Butterflyfish) · C. leucopleura (Somali Butterflyfish) · C. lineolatus (Line Butterflyfish) · C. litus (Easter Island Butterflyfish) · C. luctuosus · C. lumila · C. auriga · C. lunula (Halfmoon Butterflyfish) · C. lunulatus (Oval Butterflyfish) · C. lunura · Abudefduf luridus · C. madagascarensis · C. madagaskariensis (Indian Ocean Chevron Butterflyfish) · C. marleyi (Doubledash Butterflyfish) · C. mayeri · C. melannotus (Black-Back Butterflyfish) · C. melapterus (Arabian Butterflyfish) · C. mertensii (Atoll Butterflyfish) · C. mesoleucos (White Fronted Butter Flyfish) · C. meyeri (Maypole Butterflyfish) · C. meyersi · C. miliaris (Crochet Butterflyfish) · C. miliarus · C. mitratus (Indian Butterflyfish) · C. modestus (Brown-Banded Butterflyfish) · C. mulleri · C. multicinctus (Multiband Butterflyfish) · C. multicintus · C. nigrirostris · C. nigrofuscus gahhm · C. nigropunctatus (Black-Spotted Butterflyfish)

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Notes

Contributors

• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 20, 2007.
• FishBase 2006.
• Froese, R., and D. Pauly. FishBase 2004. International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 01, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 3 providers.
• MBLWHOI Library: Universal Biological Index and Organizer. uBio.org accessed July 18, 2008.
• Woodland, David J. (from FishBase).

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 01, 2008:

• FishBase: FishBase DiGIR Provider - Philippine Server
• Museum national d'histoire naturelle: Ichtyologie
• OZCAM (Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums) Provider: Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2489595
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Fis-33881
• Fishbase Species ID: 5582
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 120715
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 610263
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 100774

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