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Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish (Roa excelsa) — Chaetodontidae

Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish

Roa excelsa

The Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish (Roa excelsa) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaetodontidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–291.0 m
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish is a butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) from deeper reef water of the central and western Pacific, including Hawaii. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a deep, laterally compressed, white-yellow body with a few broad oblique yellow to brown bars and a pointed snout. With its narrow mouth it picks invertebrates from deeper reef walls. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish?

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

Where does the Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish live?

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

How big does the Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish get?

The Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish edible?

Yes, the Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Hawaiiaanse koraalvlinder sourced
English name
Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish sourced
Scientific name
Roa excelsa
Family
Chaetodontidae
Other names
Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold 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)
291.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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 Roa

More from the family Chaetodontidae

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