Chaetodon collare Bloch, 1787
Redtail butterflyfish
Chaetodon collare
photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  18 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 20 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf and Maldives to Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-28; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 20-22. Description: Body dark grey, head stripes white, one broad vertical behind eye, one narrow curved behind mouth; scales with pale centers; caudal fin base red. Snout length 3.3-4.2 in HL. Body depth 1.4-1.7 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Occur in coral reefs in pairs or several aggregations. Juveniles in estuaries (Ref. 48636). Commonly exported to Europe and America, but quite difficult to acclimate to aquarium conditions. Feed on coral polyps. Usually found on reef edge and upper slope (Ref. 6113). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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