Spotted Butterflyfish

Chaetodon guttatissimus is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae).

Description

The Peppered Butterflyfish grows to a maximum length of 12 cm (not quite 5 in). The body is pale cream-yellow with close-set grey spots which are aligned in a vertical pattern on the upper sides and horizontal rows on the lower sides. The dorsal fin has a yellow margin and there is a bright orange patch above the caudal peduncle.

Distribution

It is found in the Indian Ocean from the Red Sea south to Durban, South Africa and east to Christmas Island and western Thailand and Bali.

Habitat

It is found in seaward and lagoon reefs, sometimes together with the Spot-banded Butterflyfish. It feeds on polychaetes, coral polyps, and algae.

Systematics

This is one of the members of the subgenus Exornator. It is part of a close-knit group which also includes the Pebbled Butterflyfish (C. multicinctus), the Spot-banded Butterflyfish (C. punctatofasciatus) and the Sunset Butterflyfish (C. pelewensis). It is suspected that these four are able to produce fertile hybrids. If the genus Chaetodon is split up, Exornator might become a subgenus of Lepidochaetodon.