Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 45 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 30°N - 18°S, 97°E - 150°W
Indo-Pacific: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Line Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Rowley Shoals and the northern Great Barrier Reef; throughout Micronesia. Replaced by Chaetodon guttatissimus in the Indian Ocean (Ref. 37816).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22 - 25; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 17 - 18. Overall color is brownish yellow with vertical rows of spots forming bands on the upper portions of the sides. A black-edged orange bar runs across the eye. The posterior edge of the caudal fin is transparent. Caudal peduncle is bright orange (Ref. 4855). Snout length 2.7-4.1 in HL. Body depth 1.6-1.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Common in coral rich areas and clear waters of lagoon and seaward reefs. Sometimes found on outer subtidal reef flats (Ref. 1602). Juveniles secretive (Ref. 48636). Feed on filamentous algae, corals, and benthic invertebrates. Often in pairs during breeding (Ref. 205), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Occasionally hybridize with C. pelewensis in the southern part of its range (Ref. 9710). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Monogamous mating is observed as both obligate and social (Ref. 52884).
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p. (Ref. 2334)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 26 - 28.9, mean 27.8 °C (based on 344 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02291 (0.01133 - 0.04632), b=3.00 (2.83 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.6 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 130 [66, 208] mg/100g; Iron = 0.967 [0.557, 1.662] mg/100g; Protein = 18.6 [17.4, 19.8] %; Omega3 = 0.129 [0.073, 0.224] g/100g; Selenium = 36.7 [18.9, 71.1] μg/100g; VitaminA = 49.2 [14.2, 174.1] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.65 [1.09, 2.43] mg/100g (wet weight);
