Chaetodon reticulatus Cuvier, 1831

Common Name and Taxonomy

Chaetodon reticulatus Cuvier, 1831, commonly called the mailed butterflyfish, is a relatively dull-colored butterflyfish species.

Body Coloration

Its body is mainly blackish, with light grey scale centers and a pale back. A broad vertical band with yellow edges runs through the eye, with a broad, white vertical band positioned behind it.

Fin Coloration

The dorsal fin is white; the description of its anal fin is incomplete. Its caudal peduncle is black, while the caudal fin is whitish blue with a yellow marginal band, which has a black submargin.

Juvenile Coloration

Juveniles have transparent tails.

Fin Ray Counts

The dorsal fin of this species contains 12 to 13 spines and 23 to 29 soft rays, and the anal fin contains 3 spines and 20 to 22 soft rays.

Maximum Size

This species reaches a maximum total length of 18 centimetres, or 7.1 inches.

General Distribution

The mailed butterflyfish has a wide distribution across the western central Pacific. It occurs from Taiwan and the Philippines through Polynesia, reaching as far east as Hawaii, the Marquesas Islands, and the Pitcairn Islands.

Range Extremes

Its range extends north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to New Caledonia. In Australia, it is found on the Great Barrier Reef, with juveniles occurring as far south as the Solitary Islands.

Adult Habitat

This is a relatively common species that inhabits exposed seaward reefs, and it can also be found in sheltered lagoon areas with dense coral growth and clear water.

Juvenile Habitat

Juveniles prefer more protected waters than adult mailed butterflyfish.

Social Behavior

The species is normally encountered in pairs, though schools have been recorded.

Depth Range

They live at depths between 1 and 30 metres, which is 3.3 to 98.4 feet.

Diet

They are obligate corallivores that feed mainly on coral species in the genus Acropora.

Reproduction

This oviparous species breeds in monogamous pairs.