THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

148 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
Yucatan in Mexico; unknown in Bahamas and
Antilles.
Habitat: Deep, offshore banks. Depth range:
20- 170 meters.
Appearance: Deep, compressed body, with
yellow on all fins except the pectoral fins.
Vertical dark bars on the eyes and near the
caudal fin. Prominent dorsal spines make
these fish unappetizing to most fish-eating
predators.
Diet: Algae, plankton, coral polyps, small
crustaceans and worms.
Reproduction: Broadcast spawner; forms pairs
during breeding.
Conservation Status: Not at risk; bred
successfully around the world for the aquarium
trade.
Remarks: Typically found in pairs and active
during the day. At night they may sleep inside
large sponges.
Is shaped to hover and navigate holes and
crevices in the reef. It has a small protruding
mouth and many small teeth in both jaws to
reach and eat food items unavailable to many
other fishes.
Saddle Butterflyfish
Chaetodon ephippium (Chaetodontidae)
Butterflyfishes
Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
Habitat: Lagoons and seaward reefs to 30 m in
coral rich, clear waters.
Appearance: Yellowish grey with a large black
spot on the upper rear sides bordered below by
a broad white band; orange area from snout to
ventral fins, wavy blue lines on the lower sides.
Adults have a filament extending posteriorly
from the dorsal fin. Max length: 30 cm.
Diet: Filamentous algae, small invertebrates,
sponges, coral polyps, and fish eggs.
Reproduction and Development: Sexes
separate; form pairs during breeding. Scatter
eggs in the open water or on the substrate. Do
not guard eggs.
Klein’s Butterflyfish
Chaetodon kleinii (Chaetodontidae)
Butterflyfishes
Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
Habitat: Deeper lagoons, channels and seaward
reefs 4–61 m, usually below 10 m. Soli-
tary, pairs, occasionally in groups.
Appearance: Length to 15 cm. Compressed
body. White band on caudal peduncle. Adult
posterior body brown to yellow. Head white,
eye transversed with a black vertical stripe.
Colors highly variable among populations.
Diet: Primarily octocorals (esp. Sarcophyton
spp.), also algae and zooplankton.
Reproduction and Development: Oviparous.
Nonguarders
PR24
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Chaetodon lunula (Chaetodontidae)
Butterflyfishes
Distribution: From East Africa throughout the
Indo-Pacific, south to Australia, east to Hawaii.
Habitat: Shallow reef flats of lagoon and
seaward reefs, to depth of 30 m.
Appearance: A large butterflyfish (up to 20
cm), oval shape. Most have oblique stripes
on the flanks, and large black bar over the
nose and eyes that makes the eyes difficult
for a predator to see and is reminiscent of a
raccoon’s mask.
Diet: Omnivore. Feeds on coral polyps, worms,
crustaceans, plankton, algae.
Reproduction and Development: Oviparous.
Pairs form during breeding period.
Mortality/Longevity: Preyed upon by larger
fish, invertebrates, and humans. Life span:
5–7 years.
Remarks: Chaetodon means “bristletooth,” and
has a dental array well-suited to its diet.
Has a great fondness for coral polyps, which
makes our Steinhart denizen a better fit for
the Color Cluster’s “Hiding the Eye” tank,
which contains no corals. There it feeds on
other invertebrates rather than the Main Tank’s
prized corals!
Reef Butterflyfish
Chaetodon senentarius (Chaetodontidae)
Butterflyfishes
Distribution: Tropical western Atlantic Ocean:
North Carolina to Brazil, including Gulf of
Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
Habitat: Coral reefs, usually from shallows
to 40 m.
Appearance: Silver body, yellow and black