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Burgess's butterflyfish (Chaetodon burgessi) — Chaetodontidae

Burgess's butterflyfish

Chaetodon burgessi

The Burgess's butterflyfish (Chaetodon burgessi) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–130.0 m
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Burgess's butterflyfish is a butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 14 cm and has a deep, laterally compressed, disc-shaped body with a small, pointed mouth. The white body bears broad oblique black bands and a yellow tail; it lives on deeper reefs. As a reef-dweller it searches coral and rocky reefs for coral polyps, small invertebrates and algae; many species live in pairs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Burgess's butterflyfish?

The Burgess's butterflyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly white and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Burgess's butterflyfish live?

The Burgess's butterflyfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Burgess's butterflyfish get?

The Burgess's butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 14 cm.

Is the Burgess's butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Burgess's butterflyfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Burgess's butterflyfish edible?

Yes, the Burgess's butterflyfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Burgess' koraalvlinder sourced
English name
Burgess's butterflyfish sourced
Scientific name
Chaetodon burgessi
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Burgess' butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
130.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless 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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