Chaetodon plebeius Cuvier, 1831
Blueblotch butterflyfish
Chaetodon plebeius
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range - 10 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Andaman Sea to Fiji, north to Japan, south to Australia. Recently reported from Tonga (Ref. 53797).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-18; Anal spines: 4-5; Anal soft rays: 14-16. Description: Body is yellow with narrow dark stripes on the sides. There is an elongate blue blotch on the upper sides and a white-edged black spot on the caudal peduncle. A white-edged black bar runs vertically on the head across the eye (Ref. 4855). Snout length 2.7-3.1 in HL. Body depth 1.6-1.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Feed mainly on polyps of Acropora corals in lagoons and outer reefs. Oviparous (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Clean parasites from other fishes (Ref. 9710).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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