Pyramid Butterflyfish

Hemitaurichthys polylepis is a species of fish belonging to the Chaetodontidae family, native from central Indo-Pacific.

Description

The pyramid butterflyfish is a small-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 18 cm. Its body is compressed laterally with a rounded body profile, its snout is a little bit stretched with a small terminal protractile (it can be extend) mouth. Its very characteristic livery leaves no doubt about the identification. A dark brown-yellow area, which intensity of color can vary, fully mask the head and extends to a line from the first rays of the dorsal fin to the start of its pelvic fins. The rest of its body is white, peduncle and caudal fin included. Insertion of yellow-orange areas at the top of the side form a kind of characteristic o pyramidal pattern. The anal fin is also yellow-orange.

Distribution & habitat

The pyramid butterflyfish is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the central Indo-Pacific from Cocos Keeling and Christmas islands to Polynesia and from south Japan to New-Caledonia.

The pyramid butterflyfish appreciates the outer reef slopes from which it can swim out in open water to get its food, it's found from of 3 to 60 meters deep.

Biology

The pyramid butterflyfish lives in large school and feeds on plankton in open water out of its shelter reef.

Conservation status

The species as a planktivorous could be affected by climate-induced reductions in planktonic productivity. There do not appear to be any current threats to this species and it is listed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.