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Addis butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) — Chaetodontidae

Addis butterflyfish

Chaetodon semilarvatus

The Addis butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 23 cm.

Length
23 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–20.0 m
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Djibouti, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Addis butterflyfish is a butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The species grows to about 23 cm and has a deep, bright-yellow body with fine orange longitudinal lines and a conspicuous dark-blue patch behind the eye, like a mask. As a reef-dweller it often lives in pairs or small groups on coral-rich reefs and picks coral polyps, small invertebrates and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Addis butterflyfish?

The Addis butterflyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Addis butterflyfish live?

The Addis butterflyfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Africa: Djibouti, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt and others

How big does the Addis butterflyfish get?

The Addis butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 23 cm. On average the species is around 15 cm.

Is the Addis butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Addis butterflyfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Addis butterflyfish edible?

Yes, the Addis butterflyfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Addis butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) — Chaetodontidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Bart, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Addis butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) — Chaetodontidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) R Vasconcellos, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Addis butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) — Chaetodontidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) François Libert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Addis butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) — Chaetodontidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — J. Hutsch (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Addis butterflyfish sourced
Scientific name
Chaetodon semilarvatus
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Bluecheek butterflyfish; Golden butterflyfish; Redlined butterflyfish; Yellow butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
23.0 verified
Average length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Natural range
Africa: Djibouti, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Chaetodon

More from the family Chaetodontidae

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