Spotfin Butterflyfish

Chaetodon ocellatus is a butterflyfish found in the western Atlantic Ocean, in the Gulf of Mexico and most commonly found in the Caribbean Sea.

Description

The name is derived from the dark spot on the fish's dorsal fin. This, combined with a vertical, black bar through the eye, is an adaptation that can confuse predators. Body is white with a black bar running across the head through the eye. In juveniles, a second black bar runs from the base of the soft portion of the dorsal fin to the base of the anal fin. The dorsal, caudal and anal fins are either yellow or transparent. A narrow yellow bar from gill opening to pectoral base. The vertical black bar disappears as the fish gets older and other black lines become more prominent.

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Florida, USA to Brazil. Larvae are sometimes swept northward which accounts for the sighting of juvenile specimens as far north as Massachusetts, USA during summer months. One record (one specimen, 3 cm) from Musquodoboit Harbor, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Habitat

Inhabit shallow, coral reefs with clear water. Develop dusky bands at night. Oviparous. Form pairs during breeding.