Chaetodon falcula Bloch, 1795
Blackwedged butterflyfish
Chaetodon falcula
photo by Tanaka, H.

Family:  Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)
Max. size:  20 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 15 m
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: East Africa south to 27°S and east to Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-25; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 20-21. Description: Distinctly marked with bright yellow and orange over the back and tail. Two well-defined black saddles on the back (Ref. 48636). Snout length 1.9-2.3 in HL. Body depth 1.6-1.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found on the reef edge and upper slope. Usually in current-prone habitats; juveniles secretive in corals (Ref. 48636). Generally seen in pairs or in small aggregations (Ref. 4858). Feed mainly on invertebrates (Ref. 6113). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205). Indian Ocean species counterpart of sibling Chaetodon ulietensis which is found in western and central Pacific (Ref. 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Ranges south to Delagoa Bay (Ref. 5372). Also recorded from Inhaca I. (Ref. 5285) and Montepuez Bay, Quirimba Island (Ref. 41878).


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