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Hooded butterflyfish (Chaetodon larvatus) — Chaetodontidae

Hooded butterflyfish

Chaetodon larvatus

The Hooded butterflyfish (Chaetodon larvatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–12.0 m
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Hooded butterflyfish is a butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a deep, laterally compressed, disc-shaped body with a small, pointed mouth. It has an orange head and a blue-grey body with fine, V-shaped chevron lines. 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 Hooded butterflyfish?

The Hooded butterflyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Hooded butterflyfish live?

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

How big does the Hooded butterflyfish get?

The Hooded butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm. On average the species is around 12 cm.

Is the Hooded butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Hooded butterflyfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Hooded butterflyfish edible?

Yes, the Hooded butterflyfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Maskerkoraalvlinder sourced
English name
Hooded butterflyfish sourced
Scientific name
Chaetodon larvatus
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Hooded butterflyfish; Masked butter flyfish; Masked butterflyfish; Orange-face buttterflyfish; Red Sea butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Average length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
12.0 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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