Home · Chaetodontidae · Blackwedged butterflyfish
Blackwedged butterflyfish (Chaetodon falcula) — Chaetodontidae

Blackwedged butterflyfish

Chaetodon falcula
LC · Least Concern

The Blackwedged butterflyfish (Chaetodon falcula) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–15.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The blackwedged butterflyfish is a handsome butterflyfish from the Indian Ocean. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a white body with fine dark vertical lines, two conspicuous black saddle blotches on the back, a yellow tail region and a black eye band. As a reef-dweller it searches in pairs among coral for polyps, small invertebrates and algae. The fish is harmless to humans and appears in the reef aquarium. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackwedged butterflyfish?

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

Where does the Blackwedged butterflyfish live?

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

How big does the Blackwedged butterflyfish get?

The Blackwedged butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Blackwedged butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackwedged butterflyfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Blackwedged butterflyfish edible?

The Blackwedged butterflyfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Dubbelzadel-koraalvlinder verified
English name
Blackwedged butterflyfish verified
Scientific name
Chaetodon falcula
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Blackwedged butterflyfish; Double-saddled butterflyfish; Indian double-saddle butterflyfish; Pigface coralfish; Saddleback butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

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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