foureye butterflyfish

Scientific name Chaetodon capistratus
Descriptor Linnaeus
Year of description 1758
IUCN category (World) LC
Family Chaetodontidae
Genus Chaetodon
Chaetodon capistratus Chaetodon capistratus

Introduction

The Foureye Butterflyfish is a fish native to the tropical Atlantic coasts of Central America and North America. It is also found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the Antilles, Massachusetts, and up to the Bahamas.

Who is it?

Morphology

  • Average size
    13 cm
  • Maximum size
    15 cm
  • Shape
    Circular
  • Pattern
    diagonal stripes
  • Average size
    13 cm
  • Maximum size
    15 cm
  • Shape
    Circular
  • Pattern
    diagonal stripes

How to recognize the foureye butterflyfish ?

The Foureye Butterflyfish is bicolor with a mostly silver and black pattern. It has yellow outlines and a black spot on the rear of the body. It is also covered with diagonal (in both directions) black stripes.

Sexual dimorphism

Dimorphism not specified.

Behaviour & Life cycle

  • diet
    omnivorous with carnivorous tendency
  • Sociability
    living as a couple or alone
  • territorial
    No
  • Way of living
    diurnal

The Foureye Butterflyfish is a fish seen in pairs or solitary that naturally resides near reefs. It is a species with a rather lively temperament that allows divers to approach it easily.

Generally, it is an independent fish that doesn't pay much attention to other species. However, it can show some signs of aggression towards its conspecifics.

Reproduction

  • Reproduction
    ovipare qui pond en eau libre

The Foureye Butterflyfish is an oviparous fish that spawns in open water.

Harmless species

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

Where to find it?

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

World : LC

Where to see this species?

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

  • Temperature
    23 - 27 °C
  • Depth
    2 - 20 m
  • Flow
    Medium

Biotope presentation

The Foureye Butterflyfish is most commonly found at a depth of less than 20m. However, it is not impossible to find this fish at other depths.

The substrate is generally made up of rocks.

Species of the same biotope

To go further

Species of the same family

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.

Benoit Chartrer

Benoit Chartrer

Patrick Chartrer

Patrick Chartrer

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.

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Species of the same biotope

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