Indian Butterflyfish

Chaetodon mitratus is a marine fish from the genus Chaetodon which is part of the Serranidae family.

Description

It is yellow with a bluish coloration of the dorsal fin. It has two black stripes that run diagonally and a bold stripe across the eye that is black above, and orange below.

Distribution

Western Indian Ocean: known only from Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Amirante, Christmas Island, and Cocos-Keeling Atoll south of Sumatra. Probably widely distributed around the islands of the tropical Indian Ocean.

Habitat

It is a deep-dwelling butterfly, but recent observations indicate that it can form small groups of up to 5 individuals and inhabits steep outer reef drop-offs in rubble areas or among growths of black coral and sea fans. Chaetodon mitratus is oviparous and eats corals.