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Barberfish (Johnrandallia nigrirostris) — Chaetodontidae

Barberfish

Johnrandallia nigrirostris
LC · Least Concern

The Barberfish (Johnrandallia nigrirostris) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
6.0–40.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The barberfish is a butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) from the eastern Pacific. The species has a deep, yellow body with a black band over the nape and a dark snout, to which the scientific name refers. It often occurs in large schools over coral and rocky reefs. Besides feeding on algae, snails and small crustaceans it acts as a cleaner fish: it removes parasites from larger fishes, which present themselves to it for the purpose. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Barberfish?

The Barberfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Barberfish live?

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

How big does the Barberfish get?

The Barberfish grows to a maximum of about 20 cm. On average the species is around 14 cm.

Is the Barberfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Barberfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Barberfish edible?

The Barberfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Barbier-koraalvlindervis sourced
English name
Barberfish verified
Scientific name
Johnrandallia nigrirostris
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Barberfish; Blacknose butterflyfish; Blacknosed butterflyfish; Black-nosed butterflyfish verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

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

More from the family Chaetodontidae

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