Spotfin butterflyfish

Northern butterflyfish ( Chaetodon ocellatus )

The Northern butterflyfish ( Chaetodon ocellatus ) or Spotfin butterflyfish is a species in the family of butterfly fish.

Dissemination

He lives in the western Atlantic, from the Brazilian Abrolhos Islands in the south to Florida in depths of up to about 30 meters. Particularly common is the type in the shallow reefs of Florida. Often young fish are driven off with the Gulf Stream to the north. They are already in New York, Massachusetts and caught himself in Nova Scotia. Every year in November thousands die young fish from the growing cold water on the Atlantic coast of North America.

Features

The fish has a high-backed, laterally flattened body of silvery white color. The pectoral fins are transparent, the other fins are yellow. A dark stripe runs vertically above the eyes. Juveniles have such a strip also on the abdomen just before the tail. The Northern butterflyfish is 16 to 20 inches long.

Way of life

Full-grown Northern butterfly fish live in pairs, individually juveniles or in small groups. Northern butterfly fish are omnivorous and feed mainly on plankton.