Threadfin butterflyfish | |
---|---|
C. a. setifer (Pemba, Tanzania) | |
C. a. auriga (Sharm el-Sheikh, Red Sea) | |
Conservation status | |
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Acanthuriformes |
Family: | Chaetodontidae |
Genus: | Chaetodon |
Subgenus: | Chaetodon (Rabdophorus) |
Species: | C. auriga |
Binomial name | |
Chaetodon auriga Forsskål, 1775 | |
Synonyms | |
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The threadfin butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga) is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.
Distribution
Chaetodon auriga is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and eastern Africa (south to Mossel Bay, South Africa) to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island and Rapa Iti, at depths of 1–35 metres (3–115 ft). A single specimen was reported recently (2015) in the western Mediterranean Sea off Italy, a likely result of aquarium release.
Description
Chaetodon auriga is up to 23 centimetres (9 in) long. Its body is white with "chevron" markings on the side. The rear edge of the dorsal fin has a prominent black spot with a trailing filament behind it, and a black vertical band runs through the eye. The fish also has a belly patch of descending oblique dark lines and bright yellow fins. Two subspecies are sometimes recognised: Chaetodon auriga auriga occurs in the Red Sea and lacks the dorsal eyespot; Chaetodon auriga setifer is the spotted population occurring outside the Red Sea.
Taxonomy
It belongs to the large subgenus Rabdophorus which might warrant recognition as a distinct genus. Within this group, it is almost certainly a rather close relative of the vagabond butterflyfish (C. vagabundus) and the Indian vagabond butterflyfish (C. decussatus). The C. auriga species group shares the characteristic pattern of two areas of ascending and descending oblique lines, but they differ conspicuously in hindpart coloration.
References
- Myers, R.F.; Pratchett, M. (2010). "Chaetodon auriga". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T165631A6073721. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165631A6073721.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Chaetodon auriga". FishBase. December 2019 version.
- Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea (Chaetodon auriga). 2nd Edition. 2021. 366p. CIESM Publishers, Paris, Monaco.https://ciesm.org/atlas/fishes_2nd_edition/Chaetodon_auriga.pdf
- Dianne J. Bray. "Chaetodon auriga". Fishes of Australia. Meseums Victoria. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- Jennifer L. Fessler & Mark W. Westneat (2007). "Molecular phylogenetics of the butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae): taxonomy and biogeography of a global coral reef fish family". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 45 (1): 50–68. Bibcode:2007MolPE..45...50F. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.05.018. PMID 17625921.
- Kui-Ching Hsu; Jeng-Ping Chen & Kwang-Tsao Shao (2007). "Molecular phylogeny of Chaetodon (Teleostei: Chaetodontidae) in the Indo-West Pacific: evolution in geminate species pairs and species groups" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Suppl. 14: 77–86.
External links
- Media related to Chaetodon auriga at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Chaetodon auriga at Wikispecies
- Photos of Threadfin butterflyfish on Sealife Collection