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Gardiner's butterflyfish (Chaetodon gardineri) — Chaetodontidae

Gardiner's butterflyfish

Chaetodon gardineri

The Gardiner's butterflyfish (Chaetodon gardineri) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 17 cm.

Length
17 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–91.0 m
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Bahrain, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Iraq and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

Gardiner's butterflyfish is a butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) from the northwest Indian Ocean, including the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. The species grows to about 17 cm and has a deep, grey-white body with fine diagonal lines, a yellow back and tail and a dark band through the eye. As a reef-dweller it lives on coral and rocky reefs and picks coral polyps, small invertebrates and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Gardiner's butterflyfish?

The Gardiner's butterflyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly yellow-gold.

Where does the Gardiner's butterflyfish live?

The Gardiner's butterflyfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Bahrain, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Iraq and others

How big does the Gardiner's butterflyfish get?

The Gardiner's butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 17 cm.

Is the Gardiner's butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Gardiner's 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 Gardiner's butterflyfish edible?

Yes, the Gardiner's butterflyfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Gardiner's butterflyfish (Chaetodon gardineri) — Chaetodontidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Parviz Tavakoli-Kolour (CC BY 3.0)
Gardiner's butterflyfish (Chaetodon gardineri) — Chaetodontidae — 3
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Gardiner's butterflyfish (Chaetodon gardineri) — Chaetodontidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — BEDO (Thailand) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Gardiner's butterflyfish (Chaetodon gardineri) — Chaetodontidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — BEDO (Thailand) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Gardiner's butterflyfish sourced
Scientific name
Chaetodon gardineri
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Gardiner's butterflyfish; Gardner's butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
17.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
91.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Bahrain, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Iraq 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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