The saddle-back butterflyfish

saddle-back butterflyfish

Scientific name	Chaetodon ephippium
Descriptor	Cuvier
Year of description	1831
IUCN category (World)	LC
Family	Chaetodontidae
Genus	Chaetodon

Introduction

Chaetodon ephippium, commonly known as saddle-back butterflyfish, is a salt water fish.

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Who is it?

Morphology

Average size

20 cm
Maximum size

30 cm
Shape

Circular
Pattern

horizontal stripes

Average size

20 cm
Maximum size

30 cm
Shape

Circular
Pattern

horizontal stripes

How to recognize the saddle-back butterflyfish ?

The saddle-back butterflyfish measures between 20 and 30 cm. This fish is tricolore with a predominantly jaune, bleu and gris body. The also has bleu horizontal stripes.

Behaviour & Life cycle

diet

omnivorous
Sociability

living as a couple or alone
territorial

No
Way of living

diurnal

The saddle-back butterflyfish is a fish living as a couple or alone naturally found near the bottom. This species is omnivorous .

Although the saddle-back butterflyfish is non-territorial, it is sometimes aggressive towards other species. It also shows signs of aggression towards its conspecifics.

Reproduction

Reproduction

ovipare

The saddle-back butterflyfish is a fish ovipare.

Harmless species

This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.

Where to find it?

Origin

Great Barrier Reef Philippine Sea South East Asian Seas Indonesian seas Western Tropical Pacific Ocean

islands

Bali Nusa Penida

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

World : LC

Where to see this species?

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

Depth

0 - 30 m

Biotope presentation

The saddle-back butterflyfish is most often found at a depth between 0m and 30m. However, it is not impossible to find this species at other depths.

Species of the same biotope

To go further

Species of the same family

brushytoothed butterflyfish Chaetodontidae

unicorn pennant coralfish Chaetodontidae

black long-nosed butterflyfish Chaetodontidae

To read on the web

Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

Aurélien Calas

Translation

Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.