Chaetodon melapterus Guichenot, 1863
Arabian butterflyfish
Chaetodon melapterus
photo by Field, R.

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  13 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman; off the Red Sea coast of Yemen and other islands to the south. Although the type locality was stated to be Reunion and cited by several references as occurring there, it is probably erroneous; the species apparently does not occur in the Mascarenes (Ref. 33390).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19-21; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 18-19
Biology:  Found in coral rich areas of shallow coastal reefs. Occasionally in aggregations. Feed exclusively on coral polyps (Ref. 9710). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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